On His Own

Unlike the major management shuffle at General Motors, the changes announced last week by Radio Corporation of America merely confirmed a long-predicted move. Executive Committee Chairman Elmer W. Engstrom will turn over to President Robert W. Sarnoff, 49, the title of chief executive officer, which Engstrom has held for 22 months. The switch, which will become effective New Year's Day, was disclosed well ahead of time to facilitate "an orderly transition of duties."

Engstrom, 66, who reached the executive roster by way of the $2.5 billion corporation's research labs, is not retiring. He still has three years remaining on a five-year contract, and will continue to serve as executive-committee chairman and technological consultant. Besides, RCA differs from many large companies in that it has no mandatory retirement age for top executives. Chairman of the Board David Sarnoff, father of the new chief executive, is still vigorously active at 76; he remains RCA's most powerful voice and biggest stockholder.

Understandably, "the General"--as old Reservist Sarnoff has been known at RCA ever since he was given a World War II promotion to brigadier general--has interested himself in his son's career. But Bob had to work his way up, starting 19 years ago as a TV time salesman for the NBC network, an RCA subsidiary.

Attending to Business. In earlier days, the younger Sarnoff's successive promotions were greeted in expected fashion. Wags suggested that his theme song ought to be Somebody Up There Likes Me. He made headlines in 1950 when, after a divorce, he married Felicia Schiff Warburg, member of one of New York's leading banking families. Nowadays, however, even the old skeptics admit that Bob Sarnoff has attended strictly to business. Over the years, his authority and judgment have been reflected more and more in the complex decisions that are of vital concern to the mammoth corporation. Though NBC still stands second to CBS in the TV ratings, RCA completely dominates the color-television field, is increasing its manufacturing capacity so that by the end of this year sales of color sets are expected to be triple those of 1965. After a shaky start, the corporation is also moving ahead with its Spectra 70 computers. For the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, RCA built the TIROS weather satellite, contributed to the Gemini flights, is now concentrating on components for the Apollo program. For national defense, the corporation was a major supplier of electronic control equipment used by the Minuteman missile program. It has also branched into new fields, acquiring Hertz Corp. and the publishing firm of Random House.

With these myriad activities, it is small wonder that the company Bob Sarnoff will take over recently reported third-quarter figures that should gladden the heart of any stockholder: sales stood at a record $804 million and earnings at a record $37.3 million.

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