Jeffrey Bleustein

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Jeffrey L. Bleustein is an American business executive, and the former Chief executive officer of Harley-Davidson. He is credited with helping save the company from possible bankruptcy in the 1980s, and leading the company's resurgence as the dominant motorcycle manufacturer in the United States. [1]

Contents

Early life and education

Bleustein is a native of Scarsdale, New York, and comes from a family with a background in manufacturing. His grandfather, an immigrant from Poland, ran a company called Atlas Baby Carriage in the Bronx, along with his father and two of his uncles. [2] [3]

After graduating from A.B. Davis High School, [4] he earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Cornell University, and a master's degree and PhD in engineering mechanics from Columbia University. [5] He spent a year as a NATO postdoctoral fellow in England. [2]

Early career

From 1966 to 1971, Bleustein was an associate professor of engineering and applied sciences at Yale University. [5] His work on piezoelectricity along with related work by Yuri Vasilyevich Gulyayev on a new type of transverse surface acoustic wave led to that wave being called the Bleustein-Gulyaev wave. [6]

In 1971, he decided to enter the corporate world and took a job as a technology consultant with American Machine and Foundry, commonly known as AMF, a sporting goods manufacturer. [2] He was considered the "golden boy" of AMF's engineering team. [7] AMF had purchased the Harley-Davidson motorcycle company in 1969. In 1975, AMF assigned Bleustein to help reorganize Harley-Davidson's engineering operations, which he described as "an overgrown blacksmith shop" at that time. [1] He began commuting from New York to Milwaukee one day a week to manage the process. [2]

Career at Harley-Davidson

Bleustein became a Harley-Davidson employee in 1975, [8] initially as vice president of engineering. AMF's ownership of Harley-Davidson was problematic, and by some accounts, the company was close to bankruptcy in the early 1980s. [1]

Along with 12 others Harley-Davidson executives, Bleustein helped lead an $81.5 million leveraged buyout of the company in 1981. [1] [2] [8]

He was promoted to senior vice president in 1988, [1] executive vice president in 1990, [1] president and Chief operating officer in 1993 [1] and chief executive officer in 1997. [1] He became chairman of the board in 1998. [1]

In 2010, the Harvard Business Review called Bleustein one of "The 100 Best-Performing CEOs in the World, mentioning the $13 billion increase in the company's market capitalization during his tenure as CEO. [9]

He stepped down as CEO in April, 2005 and was replaced by James L. Ziemer. [10]

As CEO, Bleustein was known for holding large numbers of face-to-face meetings with stakeholders, including customers, employees, stockholders and suppliers. [11] He was an advocate of the "free flow of ideas" [2] He is credited with strengthening the dealer network [1] and for Harley-Davidson's expansion to China, including opening dealerships in Beijing and Shanghai. [1]

After accepting his first job at Harley-Davidson, Bleustein soon became an "avid biker" [8] Early in his time with the company, he was embarrassed to discover that his new Harley-Davidson Sportster was leaking oil, and this motivated him to redesign the engine to eliminate the oil leak problem. [12] He was responsible for other engineering innovations, including rubber engine mounts to reduce vibration, redesign of the iconic Harley-Davidson V-twin engine, and introduction of Kevlar drive belts. [12]

He was an active participant in the Harley Owners Group, attending six or more events each year. [11]

Corporate boards and community service

Bleustein is a member of the board of directors of the Brunswick Corporation [5] and the Kohler Company. [5] He serves on the boards of the Medical College of Wisconsin and the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, [5] and is a member of Milwaukee's Congregation Shalom. [13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Rovito, Rich (February 24, 2008). "Bleustein helped save Harley-Davidson". Milwaukee Business Journal . Milwaukee.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Herzog, Brad (January 2003). "Born to Be Mild: The Mild One - How did Harley-Davidson buff Jeff Bluestein turn a foundering outlaw icon into a chrome-plated corporate success story?". Cornell Alumni Magazine. Ithaca, New York. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
  3. ↑ Industrial Directory of New York State: Directory of Manufacturing and Mining Firms in New York State. State of New York, Department of Commerce. 1949.
  4. ↑ "A.B. Davis High School | Class of 1957 Reunion".
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Jeffrey L. Bleustein". Brunswick Corporation . Retrieved June 24, 2012.
  6. ↑ Hickernell, F.S. (May 2005). "Shear horizontal BG surface acoustic waves on piezoelectrics: a historical note". IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control. 52 (5): 809–11. doi:10.1109/tuffc.2005.1503966. PMID   16048181. S2CID   1043119.
  7. ↑ Holmstrom, Darwin (2002). Harley-Davidson Century. Minneapolis: MotorBooks. p. 208. ISBN   9780760311554.
  8. 1 2 3 Teresko, John (December 1, 2002). "Technology Leader Of The Year -- Fueled By Innovation: For 27 years, Jeff Bleustein has helped Harley-Davidson Inc. innovate its way to the top". IndustryWeek . Cleveland . Retrieved June 24, 2012.
  9. ↑ Hansen, Morten T.; Herminia Ibarra; Urs Peyer (January 2010). "The 100 Best-Performing CEOs in the World". Harvard Business Review . Boston. Archived from the original on June 4, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Jim Ziemer to be Harley's New Boss when Jeff Bleustein Steps Down as CEO: Bleustein will retire as Harley-Davidson's CEO in April, Current CFO Jim Ziemer will move up. Bleustein continues to chair the Board of Directors, which will add Ziemer". Motorcyclist . Los Angeles. February 2009. Archived from the original on January 13, 2008. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
  11. 1 2 O'Neil, William J. (2004). Business Leaders & Success: 55 Top Business Leaders & How They Achieved Greatness . New York City: McGraw-Hill. pp.  143–144. ISBN   9780071426800. Bleustein Harley Davidson.
  12. 1 2 Scott, Missy (2008). Harley-Davidson Motor Company. Corporations That Changed the World. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. p. 131. ISBN   9780313348891.
  13. ↑ Muchin, Andrew (September 12, 2003). "Could This Be Kosher HOG Heaven?: Born-To-Be-Wild Minyans in the Mix at Harley-Davidson Centennial". The Forward . New York City . Retrieved June 24, 2012.
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