George B. (Spike) Beitzel had a 32-year career in senior
management and marketing positions. Commenting in October
1986 of Beitzel's upcoming March 1987 retirement, IBM
chairman of the board John F. Akers said: "Spike's
management know-how and judgment have been invaluable
to IBM at both the national and international level.
He has made substantial contributions to the company,
and we will miss his leadership. We wish him the very
best."
The following is the text of a corporate biography published in December 1986.
George B. Beitzel, IBM senior vice president, a director and a member of the Corporate Management Board and the Management Committee, joined the company in 1955 as a sales representative. In 1961 and 1962 he served as an administrative assistant and executive assistant to the chairman of the IBM Board.
He was elected vice president of IBM in 1968, and in January 1972, he was elected senior vice president. In September 1972 he was elected to the IBM board of directors. He joined the Corporate Office in 1979 and currently has responsibility for IBM's Corporate Business Units.
Mr. Beitzel is a graduate of Amherst College and of the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration.
He is a trustee of Amherst College, Northern Westchester Hospital, Joint Council on Economic Education, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowships. Mr. Beitzel is a director of Bankers Trust Company, FlightSafety International, Inc., Phillips Petroleum Company, Rohm and Haas Company, Roadway Services, Inc. and National Association of Manufacturers.