The Sailboat and Early CurrentsLong before the words “venture capitalist” were ever uttered, a young Alan Spoon looked at an MIT course catalog. The First Command: The Washington Post and the OracleSpoon’s trajectory shifted globally in 1982 when he was recruited to join The Washington Post Company as vice president for new business development. Eventually, as President and COO of the entire Post corporation, he oversaw newspapers, broadcasting, and education services like Kaplan. When Jeff Bezos ultimately purchased The Washington Post for $250 million, he didn’t just buy a print newspaper. Danaher, where Spoon is a board member, was a crucial part of the Baby KJ team providing timely diagnostics, logistics, and treatments.

Source: Washington Post March 01, 2026 03:24 UTC