In 1906, John Holmes went to work as a messenger in
Swift & Ox's plant in the Chicago stock yards.
Today he directs the Swift business with sales of over
two billion dollars a year.
There was nothing spectacular in Holmes' early career
that foretold he would be chosen chief-executive of the
business.
After a few months as messenger he got a clerical job in
the timekeeper's office. Then he served as night timekeeper,
day timekeeper, and assistant-head timekeeper.
In 1912, Holmes was transferred to the general superin-
tendent's office. A year later, he was put in charge of pork
operations of all Swift plants.
He stayed in that job until 1916. The war was then under
way and Holmes was used as an expediter on the military
orders.
He worked directly under G. F. Swift and after the war
became assistant to Swift, succeeding him as vice-president
in 1928.
He was then 37 and the first operating vice-president who
was not a member of the company's founding family. In
1932 he was elected a director and in 1937 was picked as
president, again succeeding G. F. Swift.
His success secret?
Holmes said some time ago, "You have often heard the
expression, 'He is a natural bom leader. 5 I wonder whether
there is any genuine basis of fact for this age-old saying. I
doubt it. I believe leadership is a quality that can be acquired
and developed, and is not a quality that is dropped ready-
made into the laps of the lucky by a generous providence."
