Welcome to the Family!
Feb. 12, 2022

Bill Hudson - Mixing Family Member and Independent Directors

Bill Hudson - Mixing Family Member and Independent Directors

In your family-owned business, should you have a board comprised entirely of family members or some mix of both family directors and independent directors? In this episode of the Family Business Leadership Podcast, Robin explores that question in her int...

The player is loading ...

In your family-owned business, should you have a board comprised entirely of family members or some mix of both family directors and independent directors? In this episode of the Family Business Leadership Podcast, Robin explores that question in her interview with Bill Hudson. Bill, whose company is H. D. Hudson Manufacturing Co., is an active member in his own family business’s multi-generational board and an independent board member on other families’ business boards. Bill and Robin discuss the importance of having independent directors on family business boards and how to navigate some of the family interests that often arise on such boards.

Thank you to SMB Interim Management, Yate Advisors, and Robin Letchinger for their ongoing work that connects us with the world of family-owned business leaders and makes this podcast possible.

Bill HudsonProfile Photo

Bill Hudson

President, H.D. Hudson Manufacturing Company

Bill Hudson is President, International, H.D. Hudson Manufacturing Company. Hudson is a global manufacturer of compression sprayers and knapsack sprayers used throughout the world in consumer lawn and garden markets, public health, agriculture, construction and industry. As the leading manufacturer of this type of equipment the company enjoys high market share and consumer brand awareness.

Bill is the fourth generation to participate in the leadership of this family owned corporation dating back to 1905. The company employs 300 people around the globe and has manufacturing facilities in the United States of America and Mexico. Its products are marketed in most free countries of the world through a vast network of salesmen, representatives and distributors.

Bill also served as Chairman and President of H.D. Hudson Asia Limited, the company’s former wholly owned subsidiary in Asia which was recently closed to support a new Made In USA initiative.

Bill serves on the Board of Directors of H.D. Hudson Manufacturing Company, Sasser Family Companies, a privately held transportation asset leasing company in Chicago, where he is Chairman of the Board and also serves as Ex Officio to the Governance, Audit and Compensation Committees. Bill is on the advisory board of Environmental Systems Design in Chicago, a global leader in engineering design. Bill is also an advisor for Advisory Board Architects.

Bill is active outside the company in several places such as the American Hardware Manufacturers Association where he is the Chairman of the Executive C… Read More