CINCINNATI — Robert Steele, vice chairman of global health and well-being at Procter & Gamble Co., plans to retire this fall after 35 years at the consumer products giant.
P&G said Monday that plans call for Steele to retire from the company Sept. 1. In the meantime, he has been named vice chairman of health care strategy, effective Feb. 1, and reports to Robert McDonald, chairman, president and chief executive officer of P&G.
As vice chairman of global health and well-being, Steele was responsible for oral care, feminine care, personal health care, pet care and snacks at P&G. The company noted that Steele’s career has included the introduction of several successful new P&G brands, including Swiffer; designing and leading P&G’s North American Market Development Organization; leading P&G’s family care, coffee, pet care and snacks businesses; and leading the strategy for P&G’s consumer health care business, including the divestiture of pharmaceuticals.
"Rob has been and remains an outstanding leader whose impact on P&G stretches across the Company and will endure for decades to come," McDonald said in a statement. "He led P&G’s North America business from 2000 to 2006, delivering six consecutive years of value- share growth, and he played a pivotal role in the successful integration of Gillette’s North America commercial operations. More recently, he has revitalized our global health and well-being strategy and portfolio, focusing on businesses where P&G can win long-term."
As part of the management change, P&G said it will consolidate its current three global business units (GBUs) into two: Beauty & Grooming and Household Care. The oral and feminine care businesses will become part of P&G’s Beauty and Grooming GBU. The personal health care, pet care and snacks businesses will become part of P&G’s Household Care GBU.
In addition, P&G said that effective Feb. 1, Charlie Pierce, group president of global oral care, and Steve Bishop, group president of global feminine care will report to Ed Shirley. Tom Finn, president of global healht care, and Dan Rajczak, senior vice president of global snacks and pet care, will report to Dimitri Panayotopoulos.
