Grady-White is privately owned by the Smith family. Eddie Smith Jr. bought the company in 1968 and has owned it ever since, making Grady-White one of the few major boat brands still under independent, family ownership. Despite what some websites claim, Grady-White is not owned by Brunswick or any other large marine company. The brand was founded in 1959 by Glenn Grady and Don White in Greenville, North Carolina, and Eddie Smith bought it about nine years later. Long-time president Kris Carroll has helped lead Grady-White for decades. The company points to this steady private ownership as a big reason it can focus on quality and customer care instead of short-term profits.
