Harold Arthur "Red" Poling (October 14, 1925 – May 12, 2012) was an American automobile businessman who was CEO and chairman of Ford Motor Company from 1990 to 1993.
Early life and education
Poling was born October 14, 1925, in Troy, Michigan, and grew up in Fairfax, Virginia, in Northern Virginia. Poling graduated from Monmouth College in 1949. He earned his MBA at Indiana University.
Career
United States Navy
Poling was a fighter pilot in the United States Navy. His sometime corporate rival, Robert Lutz, had been a fighter pilot in the United States Marine Corps. Their clashes sometimes led subordinates to joke about "who won the dogfight today?"
Ford Motor Company
Poling started at Ford Motor Company as an intern, while still attending Indiana University. He became the CEO and chairman in March 1990, and remained in that role until 1993. He made his mark at Ford's European operations in the late 1970s and was widely considered as a savior of the company in his stint as executive vice-president for North America in the early 1980s.
Personal life
Poling married Marian Lee in 1957.
Death
He died at the age of 86 on May 12, 2012, at his home in Pacific Grove, California.
Awards and honors
In 1993, Poling was awarded the Lone Sailor Award by the U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation for his naval career.