Tom Gibson, 52, was president and chief operating officer of Subaru of America Inc. when he quit in July 1992.
At the time, he said that all the fun had gone out of running Subaru, which was in dire financial straits. Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., which builds Subaru cars, had to rescue it in 1990, taking full control.
In its heyday, in the 1980s, Subaru was a high-flying, publicly traded, independent importer. In 1994, the U.S. company had its first break-even year in seven years.
Gibson said the auto industry is 'in my blood,' after more than 25 years at Subaru, Chrysler Corp. and Ford Motor Co. When he left Subaru, he became president and chief executive officer of Philadelphia's SMG, which operates arenas, stadiums, theaters and convention facilities.
'The two years I was there were the most profitable they (SMG) ever had, I think,' Gibson said. He lowered his voice: 'I was bored stiff.'
