P&G UK & Ireland chief Polman moves to US role
Paul Polman, the head of Procter & Gamble’s operations in the UK and Ireland, is taking up a new role as boss of the consumer goods giant’s US laundry and cleaning business at its Cincinatti headquarters.
Paul Polman, the head of Procter & Gamble’s operations in the UK and Ireland, is taking up a new role as boss of the consumer goods giant’s US laundry and cleaning business at its Cincinatti headquarters.
He leaves a vacancy for one of the highest profile consumer marketing positions in Britain, managing brands such as Daz, Pringles and Pampers under the post of general manager for laundry, cleaning, paper, beverage and food products for the United Kingdom and Ireland. P&G says that “no replacement has been fixed up at the moment”, but it is expected to be announced soon.
Polman takes up the role of group vice-president and president for laundry and cleaning products in North America from October 1. His appointment follows a round of senior worldwide promotions within the company (MW June 11). He replaces R Kerry Clark, who moves to head P&G’s Asia business.
Polman, aged 41, will report to AG Lafley. He has been named executive vice-president and president of North America and is seen as a possible future chief executive officer for the company, the world’s top consumer goods marketer with sales of over $35bn (22bn). Lafley, in turn, replaces Wolfgang Berndt, who takes up the post of president of Europe, Middle East and Africa on the retirement of European boss Harald Einsmann.
According to US reports, P&G is restructuring its global organisation with the creation of global category groups called Strategic Business Units under an initiative called Organization 2005.The move will create senior posts responsible for global categories.
