A.G. Lafley: CEO and Chairman of Procter & Gamble
Alan George “A.G.” Lafley (born June 13, 1947) is an American business executive and the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Procter & Gamble (P&G).
As CEO, Lafley is credited with revitalizing P&G through the core principle that “the consumer is boss,” focusing on billion-dollar brands such as Crest, Tide, and Pampers. He also spearheaded the development of several new brands, including Swiffer and Febreze, by merging P&G’s internal resources with an external innovation approach known as “Connect + Develop.”
Prior to rejoining P&G in 2013, Lafley worked as a business strategy and innovation consultant, advising companies on CEO succession, executive leadership development, and mentoring current and future CEOs.
Lafley graduated from Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Illinois, and received his A.B. from Hamilton College in 1969. In 1970, after beginning a PhD program at the University of Virginia, he joined the U.S. Navy as a supply officer during the Vietnam War. He later earned his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School in 1977 and joined P&G shortly after graduation.
Under Lafley’s leadership for most of the 2000s, P&G more than doubled its sales. The company’s billion-dollar brand portfolio grew from 10 to 24 brands (including former holdings like Folgers and Actonel), and the number of brands generating between $500 million and $1 billion in annual sales quintupled.
On average, from 2001 onward, P&G’s annual organic sales grew 5%, core earnings per share rose by 12% annually, and free cash flow productivity increased by an average of 112% per year. During Lafley’s tenure, the company’s market capitalization more than doubled, placing P&G among the five most valuable companies in the U.S. and one of the top 10 most valuable companies globally.
Lafley is recognized for transforming P&G into a more consumer-centric and externally focused organization, fostering a more diverse, curious, and collaborative culture. He championed the belief that “innovation is everyone’s job,” embedding that mindset across all levels of the company.