A.G. Lafley was the Procter & Gamble CEO who served from 2000 to 2009 and made innovation a central part of the company’s strategy.
Lafley took over in June 2000 after CEO Durk Jager resigned during a difficult period for P&G. He refocused the company around the idea that the “consumer is boss,” emphasizing close attention to shoppers, strong global brands, and improvements in product performance and marketing.
His innovation approach included “Connect + Develop,” an open-innovation model that sought useful ideas and technologies outside P&G as well as inside it. Products and brands associated with this period included Swiffer and Febreze, while major franchises such as Tide, Crest, and Pampers received continued investment.
The date range can cause confusion because Lafley later returned as P&G’s CEO in 2013, succeeding Bob McDonald, and served again until 2015. The question refers to his first tenure. John Pepper was a prominent P&G chairman, while David Taylor and Bob McDonald held the CEO role at different times.