A. G. Lafley

Alan G. "A.G." Lafley
Born	(1947-06-13) June 13, 1947 (age 64)[1] Keene, New Hampshire
Occupation	Retired Chairman, President, and CEO, Procter & Gamble
Predecessor	Durk Jager (as CEO)
Successor	Robert A. "Bob" McDonald

Alan George "A.G." Lafley (born June 13, 1947) is the former Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Procter & Gamble. He retired from the company in 2010.^[2] As CEO, Lafley is credited with revitalizing P&G ^[3] under the mantra “Consumer is Boss,”^[4] with a focus on billion dollar brands like Crest, Tide, and Pampers.^[5] But he also brought in several new brands, like Swiffer and Febreze, by merging P&G’s internal resources with outside “open” innovation, referred to as Connect + Develop.^[6]

Today, Lafley consults on business and innovation strategy,^[7] advising on CEO succession and executive leadership development, and coaching experienced, new, and potential CEOs.^[8] He serves as Special Advisor at Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, a private equity partnership. He also serves as Director at General Electric and Legendary Pictures and as Chairman of the Hamilton College Board of Trustees.^[9]

Early Years and Business Legacy

Lafley graduated from Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Illinois, and earned an A.B. from Hamilton College in 1969. In 1970, after beginning a doctoral program at the University of Virginia,^[10] he took a commission with the U.S. Navy as a supply officer during the Vietnam War. Afterwards, he studied at Harvard Business School, receiving his M.B.A. in 1977. He joined P&G upon his graduation, where he worked until his retirement.

With Lafley leading the company for most of the 2000s, P&G more than doubled sales since the beginning of the decade. During that time, the company’s portfolio of billion-dollar brands grew from 10 to 24 (including former brands Folgers and Actonel)^[11] and the number of brands with sales between $500 million and $1 billion increased five-fold with Lafley at P&G’s helm.^[12]

On average, P&G's annual organic sales grew 5%, annual core earnings-per-share grew 12%, and free cash flow productivity averaged 112% a year since 2001.^[13] Further, during Lafley’s tenure, the Company’s market capitalization more than doubled, making P&G one of the five most valuable companies in the U.S. and among the 10 most valuable companies in the world.^[14]

Lafley is credited with making P&G a more consumer-driven and externally focused company—and with shaping a far more diverse, open, curious and courageous, connected and collaborative culture in which "innovation is everyone’s job."^[15]

Recognition and Thought-Leadership

A.G. is broadly recognized for his business leadership. He was awarded "CEO of the Year 2006" by Chief Executive Magazine^[16] and the Peter G. Peterson Award for Business Statesmanship presented by the CED in 2009.^[17] In 2010, Lafley received the Edison Achievement Award, in recognition of his contributions to innovation, marketing, and human-centered design.^[18] He was also recognized with the 2010 Hall of Achievement Award, the highest honor given by the Grocery Manufacturers Association.^[19] In 2011, Lafley was awarded the Warren Bennis Award for Leadership Excellence.^[20] In March, 2012, Lafley will be inducted into the prestigious Advertising Hall of Fame.^[21]

In 2008, Lafley and renowned strategy consultant Ram Charan published The Game Changer, an operating manager's guide to turning innovation into strategic advantage. Business Week selected The Game Changer as one of the year's "Top Ten Business Books." Mr. Lafley has also authored several critically acclaimed articles for Harvard Business Review, including “What Only the CEO Can Do” (May, 2009),^[22] “Executive Pay: Time for CEOs to Take a Stand” (May, 2010),^[23] “I Think of My Failures as a Gift” (April 2011),^[24] and “The Art and Science of Finding the Right CEO” (October, 2011)^[25] co-authored with notable author and leadership consultant, Noel M. Tichy.

Today, A.G. spends the majority of his time consulting on business and innovation strategy.^[26][27] He is known as a talented and down-to-earth speaker, and he frequently speaks to groups of top management teams,^[28] global leadership executives, and high-potential leaders who can meaningfully impact the future course of their company and even their industry. A.G.'s presentations are known for their open and unstructured dialogues, and he is often sought after by groups looking for something beyond a canned keynote.^[29]

External links

• The Game-Changer Book Review at Letters on Pages
• USA Today Q&A
• A.G. Lafley Profile at Leading Authorities
• Clayton, Dubilier & Rice Home Page

References

v t e Procter & Gamble Co. Corporate directors Norman Augustine · A. G. Lafley · Lynn M. Martin · W. James McNerney, Jr. · John F. Smith, Jr. · Ralph Snyderman · Margaret Whitman · Ernesto Zedillo Brands Always · Ambi Pur · Ariel · Aussie · Bold · Bounty · Braun · Camay · Charmin · Cheer · Clairol · CoverGirl · Crest · Dawn · DayQuil · Daz  · Downy · Dreft · Duracell · Eukanuba · Fairy · Febreze · Gain · Gillette · Head & Shoulders · Herbal Essences · Iams · Ivory · Joy · Luvs · Max Factor · Metamucil · Mr. Clean · Nice 'n Easy · NyQuil · Olay · Old Spice · Oral-B · Pampers · Pantene · Pepto-Bismol · Puffs · Pur · Safeguard · Secret  · SK-II · Scope · Swiffer · Tampax · Tide · Vicks · Wella Annual revenue: US$79.03 billion (10% FY 2009) · Employees: 127,000 · Stock symbol: NYSE: PG · Website: pg.com