The Dillard family, headed by William T. Dillard, owns Dillard’s, a department store chain with over 280 stores across the United States.
William, whose parents owned a general store, followed in his father’s footsteps to open his first retail store in Nashville in 1938. He grew his brand by opening stores throughout the American Southwest for the next six decades.
William’s son, William T. Dillard II, took his place as CEO upon his retirement in 1998. His other children joined Dillard II in taking on significant roles as the patriarch’s health declined. Son Alex took his place as company president, and his third son, Mike, and two daughters, Drue and Denise, serve as vice presidents.
The current CEO, William T. Dillard II, received a BSBA from the University of Arkansas, as well as a master’s degree in business from Harvard in 1986. He was made executive vice president of the company in 1973, when he introduced computers to the company to institute a software-based inventory. This proved to be an innovative and productive way to streamline and organise a business of this size.
Under Dillard II’s leadership, the company went public but maintained its historically private attitude. The family has received criticism, which Dillard II has never publicly addressed, for maintaining a nepotistic approach to executive appointments.
