Frank Cary, IBM’s CEO from 1973 to 1981, has died.

TheStreet.com: IBM Ex-CEO Cary Dies

Frank T. Cary, the chief executive of IBM for much of the 1970s, has died. He was 85 years old.

He started working for IBM in 1948, and he was the computer hardware giant’s top corporate officer from 1973 to 1981

Cary was active in striving for Equal Opportunities for employees during his time as CEO.

IBM: CEOs then and now

IBM CEO and Chairman Frank Cary said in a 1974 EO video, “I cannot stress too strongly the importance of IBM’s employment practices.
They are based on the conviction that it is fair and right that all employees have the opportunity to make of themselves whatever they can. If we fail to deliver on that conviction, we are failing in one of our important obligations to all IBMers. Ladies and gentlemen, our goals can be achieved, but we will all have to work to make it happen. And we must make it happen, for IBM simply cannot accept less than equal and fair treatment for all its employees.”

In 1975, Frank Cary, Rev. Leon Sullivan, a General Motors board member, and General Motors CEO Tom Murphy recruited 21 leaders from top American corporations to attend a historic meeting at IBM’s Sands Point, N.Y., conference center to launch a decade-long effort by U.S. corporations to end apartheid in South Africa. This historic meeting led to the creation of the original Sullivan Principles.

A web search uncovered an interesting piece (in draft) written by David Hart from Harvard University: Red and White and Blue All Over: The Political Development of IBM (PDF)

It covers a lot of the politics and litigation that IBM was involved in during Cary’s time at the helm - indeed, the 1970s were a difficult time for IBM - constant legal threats and of course, the anti-trust suits.

There’s a lot of other information available on the web about that period in IBM’s history and Cary’s involvement, if you’re interested.

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