Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/111663
On COURSE for Bob McDonald, CEO of Procter & Gamble and the 2013 Beta Gamma Sigma honoree, shares his perspectives on innovation and leadership. BY TRICIA BISOUX B y all accounts, the past few years have been a tough time to be the CEO of a publicly held company. That���s just as true for Bob McDonald, who in 2009 took the helm of Procter & Gamble, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Prior to becoming CEO, McDonald held a variety of positions within the company, including brand manager for its Tide laundry detergent, vice president of global operations, and chief operating of���cer. Although McDonald has led the company through a massive ���nancial downturn, he has faced some criticism that, while the company remained pro���table, its pro���ts haven���t been as high as some investors had hoped. That, he says, is part of being CEO of a 175-year-old business giant, whose brands���which range from Pampers diapers to luxury perfumes like Dolce & Gabbana���are used by consumers worldwide. McDonald notes that P&G weathered the recession by staying true to its emphasis on broad-based innovation and to its overarching mission: to touch and improve the lives of people every day. For his business and managerial leadership, McDonald will receive Beta Gamma Sigma���s 2013 International 36 March/April 2013 BizEd