Harlow Curtice

Harlow Herbert Curtice (August 15, 1893 – November 3, 1962)[1] was an American automotive industry executive who led General Motors (GM) from 1953 to 1958.

[3] Curtice went beyond the ledger, exploring the plant to find out what the figures meant in terms of men and equipment.

[4] After a brief period of service as an Army enlisted man, Curtice resumed his career at AC Spark Plug, becoming assistant general manager in 1923 and president in 1929.

While other product lines struggled with or were destroyed by the Depression, Curtice's AC Spark Plug Division expanded and prospered.

[3] GM's Buick division was having great difficulties during the Depression (according to Curtice, production was at only 17% of 1926 levels).

[4] During World War II, Buick produced aircraft engines with such efficiency that the Army considered making Curtice a general, but he declined.

In 1946, GM president Charles Wilson offered him the position of executive vice president — to be Wilson's right-hand man — but Curtice declined, stating that he wished to see Buicks rolling again off the assembly line before he left the division.

[3] Curtice had greater power as executive vice president than any previous holder of that position.

[4] In his first two years as president, Curtice traveled abroad twice, spending millions each time with on-the-spot decisions.

[3] Curtice was given Time magazine's "Man of the Year" recognition for 1955 because "in a job that required it, he has assumed the responsibility of leadership for American business.

In 1959, he accidentally shot and killed the retired GM vice president, Harry W. Anderson, while on a duck hunting trip to Canada.