Financial Services >> CEO Interviews >> October 18, 1999
BENJAMIN F. EDWARDS III is the President, Chairman and CEO of A.G.
Edwards & Sons, Inc. Industry analysts frequently cite Mr. Edwards'
management style, praising the part he plays in making A.G. Edwards 'the
dominant presence in the field.' Mr. Edwards received a silver award in
1995 from Financial World magazine as 'CEO of the Year' in the finance
category. On nine different occasions, he also has been named by The
Wall Street Transcript as one of the top three CEOs in the securities
industry. In a 1993 survey conducted by Investment Dealers' Digest,
chief executive officers of investment firms and brokerage houses named
Mr. Edwards as one of the three best CEOs in the securities industry. A
1953 graduate of Princeton University, he began his association with the
firm in 1956, becoming Managing Partner in 1966 and President in 1967.
Before joining A.G. Edwards, he served as an Officer in the U.S. Navy.
Past Chairman of the Securities Industries Association (SIA), Mr.
Edwards also served on the board of the New York Stock Exchange. He
currently serves on the corporate boards of Heilig-Meyers Company, a
national furniture chain, and the National Life Insurance Company of
Vermont. In St. Louis, he also is on the boards of the Jefferson Bank &
Trust Company; the American Automobile Association of Missouri;
Psychological Associates, Inc.; Barnes-Jewish Hospital; and the
Washington University Board of Trustees. In addition to his corporate
responsibilities, Mr. Edwards is active in several civic and community
organizations in St. Louis. He serves on the boards of the Family
Investment Trust, the St. Louis Community Partnership and the United Way
of Greater St. Louis, where he recently served as Chairman. And as a
board member of Civic Progress, he currently serves as Chairman of its
Education Committee. In addition to its '100 best Companies'' accolade,
A.G. Edwards is the only retail brokerage firm to be included in The
Loyalty Effect: The Hidden Force Behind Growth, Profits and Lasting
Value (1996). Profile
the company, just to kind of set the stage for the readers?
Mr. Edwards: Our company was founded in 1887 by my great
