before becoming elected company president, johnson served as international vice president in 1962 and moved back to racine in 1963 as executive vice president. in 1967, he was also elected chairman and chief executive officer. in 1972, he stepped down as president but continued in his capacities as chairman and ceo of the consumer business until 1988. in 1993, he was elected non-executive chairman of the board, a position he held until his retirement in 2000, when he became chairman emeritus of what was then known as sc johnson – a family company.