14. Colgate-Palmolive
New York, NY
www.colgate.com
Beauty sales: $2.8 billion (excludes oral care)
Corporate sales: $12.2 billion

Key Personnel:

Ian M. Cook, president and chief executive officer; Michael J. Tangney, chief operating officer, Colgate-Europe, Greater Asia and Africa; Stephen C. Patrick, chief financial officer; Andrew D. Hendry, senior vice president, general counsel and secretary.

Products/Brands:

Speed Stick and Lady Speed Stick antiperspirants; Irish Spring, Palmolive Naturals and Protex soaps.

New Products:

Softsoap brand Decorative Collection liquid hand soap, Irish Spring MoistureBlast bar soap and SoftSoap brand Pure Cashmere moisturizing body wash and liquid hand soap.

Comments:

Colgate markets products in two major categories: oral, personal and home care; and pet nutrition. Beauty sales numbers are for personal care products only.

In 2006, Colgate-Palmolive’s 200th year, global sales rose 7.5% to a new record, and every operating division reported sales and operating profit increases in 2006. Personal care accounted for 23% of Colgate-Palmolive’s sales. Lady Speed Stick Double Defense Deodorant helped to boost personal care growth in Latin America. In Europe and the South Pacific, Palmolive Pure Cashmere shower gel helped to drive growth.

For the first quarter ended March 31, 2007, worldwide sales rose 12% to $3.2 billion on unit volume gains of 8%. Sales in the oral, personal and home care segment approached $2.8 billion, a gain of 12%. Net sales in North America increased 7.5% in the first quarter of 2007 to $662.4 million, driven by volume growth of $7.5%. Successful new products that contributed to growth in the personal care segment included Softsoap brand Decorative Collection liquid hand soap, Irish Spring MoistureBlast bar soap, and Softsoap brand Pure Cashmere moisturizing body wash and liquid hand soap. Operating profit in North America increased 15% in the first quarter of 2007 to $152 million, reflecting increased sales and gross profit margins, partially offset by higher advertising spending. Similar to Henkel’s program, in its quest for new product innovation, Colgate-Palmolive has set up a Global Innovation Fund that allocates seed money to employees who come up with good ideas.

In August, Colgate-Palmolive announced the appointment of four key executives to senior positions reporting to Ian Cook, president and CEO, who replaced Reuben Mark in July. The four are: Michael Tangney, who was named chief operating officer for Europe, Greater Asia and Africa; Seamus McBride, named executive vice president, president, North America and Worldwide Commercial Effectiveness; Fabian Garcia, named executive vice president, president, Latin America and global sustainability; and Franck Moison, named president global business development and technology.