INDUSTRIAL EMPIRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 May 1943, Page 3

INDUSTRIAL EMPIRE

CONJECTURE AS TO NEW LEADERSHIP. FOLLOWING ON DEATH OF EDSEL FORD. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) NEW YORK, 27. The death of Mr Edsel Ford, president of the Ford Company since 1919, has started speculation about to whom Mr Henry Ford will entrust the direction of the industrial empire valued at 718,000,000 dollars, says the United. Press of America. It s generally believed that Mr Charles Sorensen, Henry’s production genius for 38 years, and Mr Harry Bennett, his adviser for 27 years, will take over direction till Edsel’s three sons are ready to assume the leadership. Mr Henry Ford is nearly 80. Though alert and energetic, he is considered unlkely again to assume active directorship, Edsel’s sons are serving with the armed forces. Henry, aged 26, is a naval lieutenant, and a mathematics instructor at Great Lakes Training Centre; Benson, aged 23, is a private in the army administration school; and William, aged 17, is a naval air cadet. Edsel, when appointed president in 1919, acquired 41| per cent, of the stock—nearly all the outstanding shares not held by his father. Edsel was rearded as one of the nation’s most brilliant executives. He personally planned and supervised the conversion of the company’s plant to a 4500 million dollar war production programme in 1941-42. The firm’s Willow Run plant is the world’s largest single aeroplane factory.