LaPorte, William

LaPorte, William (Frederick)

(1913– ) consumer products executive; born in New York City. He joined American Home Products in 1938 and for more than 20 years in the 1960s and 1970s headed this multi-billion-dollar consumer products manufacturer. His dictatorial tenure was marked by stringent financial discipline and single-minded focus on profits; he was known for his disdain of accepted management techniques like corporate communications and strategic planning.