Albert Lindsay Nickerson Jr. (January 17, 1911 – August 7, 1994) was an American business executive. He served as the chairman and CEO of Mobil Oil, and chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York from 1969 to 1971.

Albert L. Nickerson
Born
Albert Lindsay Nickerson Jr.

(1911-01-17)January 17, 1911
DiedAugust 7, 1994(1994-08-07) (aged 83)
EducationHarvard University (B.S.)
OccupationBusiness executive
Title
  • President of Mobil
    (1955–1958)
  • CEO of Mobil
    (1958–1961)
  • Chairman and CEO of Mobil
    (1961–1969)
Spouse
Elizabeth Perkins
(m. 1936)
Children4
RelativesAlbert W. Nickerson (grandfather)
Chairman of Mobil
In office
November 1, 1961 – September 1, 1969
Preceded byFred W. Bartlett
Succeeded byRawleigh Warner Jr.
(Chairman and CEO)
CEO of Mobil
In office
1958 – September 1, 1969
Preceded byBrewster Jennings
Succeeded byRawleigh Warner Jr.
(Chairman and CEO)
President of Mobil
In office
1955 – November 1, 1961
Preceded byBrewster Jennings
Succeeded byHerbert Willetts

Biography

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Nickerson was born in Dedham, Massachusetts, on January 17, 1911,[1] to Albert Lindsay Nickerson and Christine Nickerson (née Atkinson).[2][3][4] In 1929, Nickerson graduated from the Noble and Greenough School, the main building of which had been constructed as the residence of his grandfather Albert W. Nickerson.[5][3] He graduated from Harvard University in 1933 with a Bachelor of Science degree.[2][5]

Business career

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Nickerson began working at a Socony (later Mobil) gasoline station in 1933.[6] He became station manager in 1934 and salesman in 1936.[3] In 1943, during World War II, Nickerson was the director of the placement bureau of the War Manpower Commission.[3]

At Socony, Nickerson eventually rose to become the company's president in 1955, replacing Brewster Jennings.[7] He stayed as president until November 1, 1961, when he was succeeded by Herbert Willetts.[8] He then served as CEO from 1958 to November 1, 1961, and CEO and chairman from November 1, 1961, to 1969 when the company changed its name to Mobil.[3][6][9][8]

Nickerson served as chairman of the Business Council from 1967 to 1968.[10] He also served as director of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York from 1961 to 1966 and its chairman from 1969 to 1971.[6] Nickerson served on the board of trustees of the Rockefeller University, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the American Museum of Natural History.[5] He also was on the Harvard Board of Overseers from 1959 to 1965.[3] He was also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.[5]

Personal life

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Nickerson married Elizabeth Perkins on June 13, 1936; they had four children: Christine, Albert, Elizabeth and Victoria.[3][11] Nickerson was awarded the gold medal by the American Petroleum Institute in 1973.[12] He was given an honorary Doctor of Law by Hofstra University on June 7, 1964.[13] Nickerson died on August 7, 1994, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Draft Registration Card". Selective Service System. October 1940. Retrieved September 25, 2022 – via fold3.com.
  2. ^ a b "Albert L. Nickerson, Ex-Mobil Chief, 83". The New York Times. August 11, 1994. Retrieved December 2, 2008.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Albert L. Nickerson, chairman, CEO of Mobil Corp.; at age 83". The Boston Globe. August 10, 1984. p. 53. Retrieved February 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Albert L. Nickerson Dies At Massachusetts Home". The Boston Globe. May 7, 1932. p. 9. Retrieved February 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b c d Shapiro, Peter (April 29, 1974). "Who It Is - A.L. Nickerson". thecrimson.com. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d "Albert Nickerson". The Orlando Sentinel. August 11, 1994. p. A-14. Retrieved February 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Personnel: Changes of the Week, Jul. 11, 1955". Time. July 11, 1955. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  8. ^ a b "For Socony Mobil, a New Board Chairman". The Los Angeles Times. October 30, 1961. Retrieved February 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "People". American Chemical Society. 39 (46): 110–117. November 13, 1961. doi:10.1021/cen-v039n046.p110. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  10. ^ The Business Council, Official website, Background Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ "Wedding Plans". The Boston Globe. April 30, 1936. p. 7. Retrieved February 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Albert Nickerson". The Boston Globe. December 30, 1973. p. 83. Retrieved February 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Hofstra Graduates Hear Industrialist". The New York Times. June 8, 1964. Retrieved February 13, 2021.