GMA Fetes Former P&G Exec Lafley During Exec Conference

Over 720 industry executives convened over the weekend at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo., for the kickoff of the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) annual Executive Conference, during which Procter & Gamble Co. former chairman, president and CEO A.G. Lafley received the trade group’s 2010 Hall of Achievement Award.

“When you talk about the leaders who have had the most significant impact on the consumer packaged goods industry over the past several decades, A.G. Lafley is at the top of everyone’s list,” said Pamela G. Bailey, GMA’s president and CEO. “He has shown a lifelong commitment to our industry, and his record of achievement as a business man and as a community leader is both remarkable and inspiring. It is with great pleasure that we recognize his many contributions with this award,” which is the highest honor the group presents to an industry leader.

Lafley retired from P&G in February 2010 after 32 years of distinguished service. He became president and CEO of the company in 2000 and was elected chairman of the board in 2002. Lafley’s focus on consumer-driven innovation and consistent, sustainable growth helped more than double P&G sales and grow the portfolio of billion-dollar brands from 10 to 22 during his leadership tenure. He also managed the largest acquisition in company history, with the 2005 purchase of The Gillette Co. for $54 billion. At the time of his retirement, P&G was one of the five most valuable companies in the United States. 

Having served on the GMA board of directors from 2000 to 2009, Lafley is widely recognized as a champion of inter-industry collaboration through such initiatives as "New Ways of Working Together" and his efforts to establish the Global Consumer Goods Forum. He is a member of the board of directors of the General Electric Co. and also serves as chairman of the board of trustees of his alma mater, Hamilton College. Lafley is  additionally the author of numerous journal articles and co-author of the highly acclaimed 2008 book, "The Game-Changer: How You Can Drive Revenue and Profit Growth with Innovation."

Active in his community, Lafley has supported various Cincinnati fine arts groups, the United Way of Greater Cincinnati, the United Negro College Fund and a multitude of other organizations. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, where he first gained managerial and supply chain experience running retail store operations for Navy and Marine families in Japan, Lafley holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

Built around the theme “Connecting with Consumers, Providing Responsible Solutions,”  this year’s annual GMA conference features more than 40 retail trading partners and representatives from over 30 allied trade groups.

“Despite a challenging economic environment, our companies have retained their steadfast commitment to their consumers,” said Bailey. “Developing responsible solutions to the important issues affecting the CPG industry while meeting consumer needs through collaboration and innovation has never been more important to our industry.”

Former ABC news anchor Charles Gibson, Money magazine managing editor Craig Matters, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and best-selling author Bob Woodward, and Jenna Bush, UNICEF Next Generation chairwoman and NBC “Today” Show correspondent were among the keynote speakers on hand for the event.