Burke, James Edward

Burke, James Edward

(1925–  ) manufacturing executive; born in Rutland, Vt. At Johnson & Johnson (1953–89), the major manufacturer of health care products, he headed the new product division before becoming variously president, CEO, and chairman (1966–89). He introduced important new products like disposable contact lenses and was widely praised for leading the company through two Tylenol-poisoning episodes (1982, 1986) with a sensitivity that increased the company's already high reputation for corporate responsibility.

The Cambridge Dictionary of American Biography, by John S. Bowman. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995. Reproduced with permission.