P&G reshuffle creates global haircare role for de Lapuente

Procter&Gamble has handed its long-serving marketer Chris de Lapuente the control of its entire global haircare business following a wide-ranging management reshuffle.

Procter&Gamble has handed its long-serving marketer Chris de Lapuente the control of its entire global haircare business following a wide-ranging management reshuffle.

De Lapuente, formerly president of global haircare, will assume the newly created role of group president for global professional and retail haircare in July. He will continue to report to P&G vice-president Susan Arnold, while Carsten Fisher, president of global professional haircare, will report to de Lapuente.

The appointment marks an expansion of his previous role, as he will be responsible for consumer haircare brands such as Head&Shoulders, as well as professional salon brands such as Wella Professional.

A P&G spokesman says the move was driven by the need for greater co-ordination across its consumer and salon haircare businesses.

De Lapuente, who joined P&G in 1983, rose through the ranks to become vice president and general manager of P&G’s UK&Ireland business in 1998, before being promoted to president of global haircare business in 2004.

P&G has also moved Marc Pritchard, global president for cosmetics and colourants, to the role of president, global strategy, reporting to P&G chief executive AG Lafley.

Within its recently acquired Gillette business, P&G has announced that James M Kilts, vice-chairman of the board, will step down as head of business after overseeing its integration. Mark Leckie, president of the global Duracell and Braun business has been named group president of the Gillette global business unit. He will assume Kilts’ day-to-day responsibilities, reporting to Lafley.