Robert A. McDonald

Robert A. "Bob" McDonald (born June 20, 1953) is the retired Chairman, President and CEO of Procter & Gamble.

Early life and career
McDonald was born on June 20, 1953 in Gary, Indiana, and grew up in Chicago. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering. At West Point he served as the Brigade—Adjutant for the Corps of Cadets and was awarded the Silver Medal from the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacturing and Commerce. After graduation, he served as a Captain in the U.S. Army for 5 years, primarily in the 82nd Airborne Division, and earned an MBA from the University of Utah in 1978. Upon leaving the military he received the Meritorious Service Medal.

McDonald joined Procter & Gamble in 1980. He served as a brand manager for Tide from 1984-1986. In 1989 he transferred to Toronto to lead P&G's Canadian Laundry business, and moved to the Philippines as General Manager in 1991. In 1995 he became Vice President, Laundry & Cleaning Products Asia, and relocated to Japan. A year later in 1996, McDonald became President, Japan Operations, and in 1999, President, Northeast Asia. Two years later he moved to Brussels as President, Global Fabric Care and later President, Global Fabric & Home Care. He was appointed Vice Chairman, Global Operations in 2004 and appointed Chief Operating Officer in July 2007. McDonald became President and Chief Executive on July 1, 2009. He assumed the Chairman of the Board role January 1, 2010. He retired from P&G on June 30, 2013.

Under McDonald's leadership, P&G grew organic sales by an average of about three percent per year with core earnings per share up an average of about four percent. P&G’s stock price rose from $51.10 the day he became CEO to $78.80 per share the day he announced his retirement – over a fifty percent increase. The Company’s market capitalization puts it among the top fifteen most valuable companies in the world.

Under Bob’s leadership, P&G made significant strategic adjustments to its product portfolio. The Company acquired Ambi Pur and formed a joint venture with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, which will enable P&G to expand its Consumer Health Care business. P&G also divested its remaining food business, Pringles, exited the pharmaceutical business, increased its focus on discontinuous innovation through the establishment of transformational platform technologies and a new business creation group, and initiated a five-year, $10 billion productivity program.

Awards and positions
In 2007, McDonald received the inaugural Leadership Excellence Award from the U.S. Naval Academy and Harvard Business Review. He serves on the Board of Directors of Xerox, the McKinsey Advisory Council and the Singapore International Advisory Council of the Economic Development Board.