David Scott Taylor (born April 20, 1958) is an American business executive who is executive chairman of Procter & Gamble, having previously been chairman, president and CEO.[1]
David Taylor | |
|---|---|
| Born | David Scott Taylor April 20, 1958 |
| Education | Duke University (BS) |
| Occupation(s) | Executive Chairman, Procter & Gamble |
Early life
David Taylor was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States, and graduated from Duke University in 1980 with a B.S. in electrical engineering.
Career
Upon graduation, he joined Procter & Gamble as a production manager. Taylor spent the first decade of his career in P&G's Product Supply organization, where he managed production and operations at a number of plants, eventually managing P&G's manufacturing plant in Mehoopany, Pennsylvania. This experience gave him hands-on understanding of manufacturing, logistics, engineering, and supply chain operations.[2]
In the early 1990s, Taylor was transferred to the brand management department, his first assignment being Pampers—P&G's largest brand. Since then, he has held leadership roles spanning a number of P&G businesses, including Baby Care, Hair Care, Family Care, and Home Care in which he expanded businesses across North America, Western Europe, and Asia. He also led P&G's Greater China hair care business for nearly four years.[3]
Taylor was Group President of P&G's Beauty Sector and P&G's Grooming and Health Care Sector which included the brands of Crest, Oral-B, Pantene, Head & Shoulders, Olay, SK-II, Gillette, Fusion, Mach 3, and Vicks.[4]
According to The Economist, as CEO, Taylor is “thought to be moving P&G in the right direction (albeit too slowly for investors’ taste).”[5]
In January 2019, Taylor said in Switzerland: "The world would be a better place if my board of directors on down is represented by 50% of the women. We sell our products to more than 50% of the women." The Wall Street Journal noted the company's board of directors has more than twice as many men as it does women.[6]
Outside interests
Earlier in his career, Taylor was vice chair of the Greater China Quality Brand Protection Committee, a collaboration between top companies and the Chinese government. He has been a director of P&G's joint venture with Clorox. Taylor was on the Board of Directors for Feeding America for eight years, including two years as board chair. He continues to be a member of the Cincinnati Freestore Foodbank.[7] In addition, Taylor is a member of the Board of Visitors at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business.[8]