John Hanley

John “Jack” Hanley helped lead Monsanto as it embarked on a pivotal transition, overseeing the company as it accelerated its tilt from a chemical company toward the agricultural and biotech firm it is known as today. Mr. Hanley, 96, died Thursday (March 15, 2018) at a medical center in North Carolina. Mr. Hanley came to Monsanto in 1972 from Procter & Gamble— the first “outsider” to lead the company. He served as chairman and chief executive until 1983. Mr. Hanley remained on Monsanto’s board until 1990. In 1984, the Post-Dispatch wrote that Mr. Hanley had moved on to a “more personal agenda: creation of an alcoholism treatment center in West Palm Beach, Fla., named after the Hanley family. His concern over alcoholism stems from wife, Mary Jane, who recovered from the disease after treatment more than nine years ago.” The Hanleys contributed $1 million to establish the Hanley-Hazelden Center for alcohol treatment, and worked to have alcoholism recognized as a disease. Mr. Hanley resided in Winston-Salem and Roaring Gap, N.C., at the time of his death. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Mary Jane Reel Hanley; two sons, John Jr. of Santa Rosa, Calif., and Michael of Atlanta; and a daughter, Susan Myers of Nashville, Tenn.