# Dee Hock

> Dee Ward Hock (1929-2022) founded and led the member-owned bankcard organization that became Visa. After leaving in 1984, he developed and wrote about chaordic organization, combining shared purpose and principles with decentralized governance, and advised projects including the United Religions Initiative.

- **Role:** Founder and CEO Emeritus of Visa USA and Visa International (deceased, 2022)
- **Organizations:** Visa, National BankAmericard Inc., National Bank of Commerce, Pacific Finance, Columbia Investment Company, CIT Financial, Chaordic Alliance, Chaordic Commons, United Religions Initiative
- **From:** North Ogden, United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Two-year degree, Weber College
- **Known for:** Founded the member-owned organization that became Visa and led it until 1984., Helped organize cooperation among competing card-issuing banks., Led Visa during its early electronic payments and international expansion milestones.

## Career timeline

- **1949-1953** — Branch manager at Pacific Finance in Ogden and Klamath Falls.
- **1953-1955** — Assistant manager in Pacific Finance’s public relations and advertising department.
- **1955-1962** — General manager of Columbia Investment Company in Los Angeles.
- **1962-1966** — Northwest regional supervisor at CIT Financial in Seattle.
- **1966-1970** — Vice president and general manager of the BankAmericard department at National Bank of Commerce; chaired the national executive committee of issuing banks.
- **1970** — Became president and CEO of member-owned National BankAmericard Inc.
- **1973** — Electronic authorization system BASE I launched under his leadership.
- **1974** — Electronic clearing and settlement system BASE II launched; international network expanded.
- **1976** — BankAmericard became Visa.
- **1984** — Left his Visa management role and began years of ranch work and study in Pescadero.
- **1993** — Spoke on institutional adaptation and learning at the Santa Fe Institute.
- **1994-2001** — Developed the Chaordic Alliance and subsequent Chaordic Commons work.
- **1997-2000** — Helped the developing United Religions Initiative design its organizational charter.
- **1999** — Published Birth of the Chaordic Age.
- **2005** — Published updated edition One from Many.
- **2013** — Published the two-volume Autobiography of a Restless Mind.

## Achievements

- Founded the member-owned organization that became Visa and led it until 1984.
- Helped organize cooperation among competing card-issuing banks.
- Led Visa during its early electronic payments and international expansion milestones.
- Developed the chaordic concept of organization.
- Advised the organizational design of the United Religions Initiative.
- Inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 1991.

## Latest updates

- **2022-07** — Died on July 16, 2022, aged 93, at his home in Olympia, Washington; Visa published a memorial on July 20.
- **2022-09** — The United Religions Initiative published a tribute describing his contribution to its charter.

## Links

- Website: https://www.deewhock.com/
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/deewhock

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/dee-hock
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-13