In the early 1960s, the laboratories of General Foods Corp. concocted Cool Whip, a dessert topping in a plastic tub that looked like putty but tasted sweet and creamy. Its popularity helped propel a young marketing executive, James Ferguson, toward the CEO job at General Foods, the maker of Jell-O, Grape-Nuts cereal and Maxwell House coffee. Mr. Ferguson also benefited from self-belief, bolstered by his military service, and a habit of listening to other people carefully before making decisions. He believed that “if I did...

Source: Wall Street Journal October 07, 2016 16:12 UTC