CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) today committed to accelerating its open innovation work, naming one of its top business leaders as the new head of Connect+Develop, the program that’s brought consumers a series of breakthrough products including Swiffer Dusters, Mr. Clean Magic Erasers, TidePods and Olay Regenerist.
Laura Becker will lead P&G’s Global Business Development group, responsible for empowering and driving Connect+Develop open innovation work across the Company and around the world.
A 22-year P&G veteran who has worked in a range of areas across the Company, Becker brings a depth of business and strategic-development expertise to GBD. She has been consistently and widely recognized as a highly effective collaborator who delivers win:win solutions, often built on true out-of-the-box thinking.
Becker replaces Jeff Weedman who helped lead P&G’s open innovation work for more than 16 years. Jeff Weedman is leaving to serve as a P&G Executive on Loan, heading a new regional not-for-profit supporting innovation growth and small business start-ups in the region.
“Connect+Develop has helped deliver some of P&G’s leading innovations, and is critical in helping us deliver on our renewed growth strategy moving forward – including a sharper focus on our 20 largest and most promising innovations,” said P&G CTO Bruce Brown. “Connect+Develop has proven to be a winning strategy, with still more room for growth.”
P&G has continued to expand, reshape and reinvest in the program, as what began as a test has proven to deliver.
Becker joined P&G in 1990 as a graduate from the Wharton School of Business, and since has risen quickly through a number of key roles. She has worked in Cost Forecasting, Financial Analysis, New Business Development, Global Treasury, Portfolio Analysis for the Research and Development Organization and held a number of Global Finance and Accounting Roles, including most recently as the Finance Director for Global Feminine Care. Across her roles, top career highlights include a focus on leveraging her collaboration skills, finance knowledge and strategic thinking to drive our innovation portfolio.
“We want Connect+Develop to help deliver a dozen more Swiffer Dusters – really breakthrough innovations that change the marketplace, grows a category, and have consumers saying: ‘I need this product,’” Becker said.
“We have a depth of innovation talent inside our walls. We’ve build razor-sharp networks linking creative minds from all over the world. We’re connected with consumer needs. We have all the ingredients for real innovation magic. Let’s accelerate delivery.”
The Global Business Development team includes about 80 employees located in innovation hot-spots around the world and linked to every business unit in the Company, serving as the bridges and relationship builders between outside innovation opportunities and internal business needs.
Since its start, Connect+Develop has linked with thousands of external innovators from big businesses to individual entrepreneurs, delivering breakthroughs in packaging, manufacturing, new business models, trademarks and licensing as well as technology and innovations for new products. Hits include Tide Total Care, TidePods, Downy Single Rinse, Clairol Foam, Olay Smooth Finish, Febreze Set n Refresh, Vicks Humidifiers, Bounce Drier Bars, Swiffer Dusters, Olay Regenerist, CoverGirl LashBlast Mascara and Mr. Clean Magic Erasers, to name a few. For more on P&G Connect + Develop℠: pgconnectdevelop.com.
About Procter & Gamble
P&G serves approximately 4.4 billion people around the world with its brands. The Company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers®, Tide®, Ariel®, Always®, Whisper®, Pantene®, Mach3®, Bounty®, Dawn®, Fairy®, Gain®, Charmin®, Downy®, Lenor®, Iams®, Crest®, Oral-B®, Duracell®, Olay®, Head & Shoulders®, Wella®, Gillette®, Braun®, Fusion®, Ace®, Febreze®, Ambi Pur®, SK-II®, and Vicks®. The P&G community includes operations in about 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.
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