Industry & Services >> CEO Interviews >> July 5, 1999

Michael J. Anderson – The Andersons Inc

MICHAEL J. ANDERSON is President and Chief Executive Officer of The Andersons, Inc. The Andersons started in 1947 with a 500,000- bushel grain elevator in Maumee, Ohio, where the company is based. Today the company operates in several other Ohio communities plus Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. The business includes four primary groups; Agriculture, Processing, Rail and Retail. Mr. Anderson graduated with his Masters in Management from Northwestern University in 1975. From 1975 to 1978 he was an Auditor for Arthur Young & Co., earning his CPA in 1976. In 1978, Mr. Anderson began his career with The Andersons. He held various positions within the Ag Group, from Grain Buyer to Grain Purchasing Manager to Grain Division Manager to Vice President and General Manager of the Grain Group. From 1994 to 1996 he was Vice President and General Manager of the Retail Group. In September 1996, he became the President and Chief Operating Officer of The Andersons, Inc. He was named to his present position in January 1999. Mr. Anderson is on the Board of Directors of The Andersons, Inc., Interstate Bakeries Corp., Fifth Third Bank and the Advisory Board of Findley Davies, Inc. He is also a Trustee and Officer of the YMCA of Greater Toledo. He was the 1998 Campaign Chairman for the United Way of Greater Toledo. He serves on the Advisory Committee of St. Patrick's of Heatherdowns Church and the Advisory Board of the University of Toledo Family Business Center. Profile
TWST: First, give us a background summary on the company, enough

information to put us into context, what you see as your business, what

you see as your company today?

Mr. Anderson: The