Robert Townsend

Robert Chase Townsend (July 30, 1920 – January 12, 1998) was an American business executive and author who is noted for transforming Avis into a rental car giant, and writing Up the Organization on business management, which spent 28 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list upon its publication in 1970.

Biography Townsend was born in Washington, D.C., in 1920. His parents moved to Great Neck, New York, where he spent his childhood. After high school, he was accepted to Princeton University, graduating in 1942. After graduating from college, he was commissioned as an officer in the United States Navy, serving for the remainder of World War II.

After the war, he was hired by American Express (1948–1962). By the time he left the company, he was the senior vice president for investment and international banking. In 1962, Lazard Frères bought Avis, a struggling auto rental company that had never made a profit in its existence. One of the partners, André Meyer, convinced Townsend to leave American Express and become the chief executive of Avis (1962–1965). slogan "We Try Harder" and its advertising campaign (1962–65). Avis also began to have profits, which Townsend credited to Theory Y governance.

"Townsend was inspired by Douglas McGregor, professor at MIT, and author of the highly influential 'The Human Side of Enterprise' (1960)."

When Townsend went on vacation, he instructed his assistant to forward all memos intended for him, to a subordinate or the best person to handle the memo, rubber stamped with "Please handle this in your own personal way", delegating his work to his team.

In 1965, ITT acquired Avis, leading to Townsend's departure as president. After leaving Avis, he became advisor and a senior partner of Congressional Monitor in 1969. He wrote the essay on business management, Up the Organization, which spent 28 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list upon its publication in 1970. - Robert Townsend

Personal life In 1990, Townsend had a triple-bypass surgery. During the late 1990s, he was the chairman of the executive committee of Leadership Directories (Washington Monitor). On January 12, 1998, while vacationing in Anguilla, he had a massive heart attack, and subsequently died. Townsend was married to Joan Tours. He had three daughters, executive and attorney Claire Townsend (1952–1995), actress Jill (b. 1945). and Joan P. Townsend, as well as two sons, Jeffrey and Robert Jr.

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