Say it isn’t so.. Bye-Bye Bruce, Mark and Mary Ann

A recent article in Advertising Age talks about the departure of several X-Gillette Executives who were thought to have made the transition from Gillette to P&G.

“Set to retire before yearend are Bruce Cleverly, 62, who headed the companies’ combined oral-care businesses but has been on special assignment reporting to Chairman-CEO A.G. Lafley since this winter; Mark Leckie, 53, who heads the Gillette, Duracell and Braun businesses; and Mary Ann Pesce, 52, who heads the companies’ combined deodorant and personal-wash businesses. Mr. Leckie did not return calls, Mr. Cleverly declined to comment and Ms. Pesce couldn’t be reached. “

You would assume that these individuals will retire before Oct 1, 2007 to cash in on the outrageous severance payout.

You can read the full article here. If you would like to know what happened to the Gillette Management team click here.

Update: apparently all true, P&G made the following announcements.
Mark M. Leckie (53), currently group president – Gillette global business unit, will retire September 1, 2007

Bruce Cleverly (62), currently president on special assignment, will retire September 12, 2007 after 32 years of service.

Mary Ann Pesce (55), currently president – deodorants/male personal care and personal cleansing, will retire September 1, 2007, after 26 years of service.

Kilts Book Available September 4, 2007 for $35

180million wasn’t enough, you greedy son of a B*&&^%!

Random House

Doing What Matters
How to Get Results That Make a Difference – The Revolutionary Old-Fashioned Approach

Written by James M. Kilts , John F. Manfredi and Robert Lorber

Gillette is Cannibalized, I Mean Realigned by P&G

Earlier this week Procter & Gamble announced it would be overhauling its corporate structure by dividing it into three new global units while breaking up its Gillette business. The restructuring will take effect on July 1, 2007.

As a result of the restructuring, Gillette will no longer be operating as its own global business unit. Its Duracell battery division will now be a part of the global household care unit, while the shaving division will come under beauty care.

Gillette inducted into hall of fame, says P&G lackey

King Camp Gillette, has been inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. 

“When King C. Gillette was granted patent #775,134 on November 15, 1904, for a revolutionary new product called the safety razor, he could not have foreseen that his brilliant idea of a razor with an inexpensive and disposable blade would still be used more than 100 years later,” Procter and Gamble said in a statement. “Today, more than 600 million people around the world shave with a Gillette product every day.

Cincinnati consumer products company Procter and Gamble (NYSE: PG) purchased Boston-based Gillette in 2005 for $54 billion.

“King C. Gillette represents the American ideals of determination and invention, and we are extremely proud that he has been inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame,” said Kelly Vanasse, associate director for Gillette. “Gillette founded this company on a time-honored credo, ‘There is a better way to shave and we will find it,’ which we uphold today through ongoing innovation and technological superiority.”

Who’s Kelly Vanasse?

Crest and Oral-B Consolidation Memo to Dentists

   

June 12, 2006 

To Our Valued Dental Professional,

Crest and Oral-B are pleased to announce that we are well on the way to successfully integrating our two companies into one great organization!

As promised when the formal merger was announced last October, an important part of our vision for our combined business was to design a world-class professional organization to service your needs and the needs of your patients. To achieve this vision, we have carefully considered many business models and best practices from both Crest and Oral-B, choosing those that will best serve you, our valued partner in oral health, as well as our combined company. We are excited about bringing you the strongest, highest quality brands in oral care, and the most innovative programs and services, to help you improve the oral health of your patients.

The first change you will see is that we are combining our field sales forces. Beginning this summer, you will have one sales rep calling on you, representing all of Crest and Oral-B’s products. We are proud of the fact that our combined sales force is composed of an even blend of Crest and Oral-B talent, who are all fully trained on all of our products.

We are still working through many additional details that have to be considered in a merger of this size. Due to system constraints, we will continue shipping Oral-B and Crest products from two different warehouses until late in 2006. Until we can combine our warehousing and shipping, you will also continue to get two separate invoices for Crest and Oral-B products. We are currently addressing all of these issues and designing best-in-class solutions, and will inform you about our decisions as soon as we can.

One thing that will not change is our strong relationship with the dental profession, which continues to be the foundation of our business. With our shared passion for oral care excellence, we will continue to work together with you to accelerate the advancement of oral care.

Please continue to call 1-800-543-2577 for P&G customer service related questions or 1-800-44ORALB for any Oral-B related questions. Information will also be posted to our websites at www.dentalcare.com and www.oralbprofessional.com. Additionally, feel free to contact your local reps directly.

Thank you for your patience and continued partnership during this transition period. We will continue to provide you with periodic updates as we work hard to design the very best professional dental organization in the world.

David Hull

Manager, North America

P&G Professional Oral Health  

P&G Alum , or Twice Baked

The first time that these executives left P&G it was a “regrettable lose”, but leaving for a second time is simply Twice Baked!!!!!!!!!!!

Joseph Scalzo, a onetime P&Ger, was the head of Gillette’s personal-care unit. Scalzo left P&G to be President and Chief Executive Officer of WhiteWave Food

Other former P&Gers who had joined Gillette are Robert DeMartini, a top executive in the blades and razors division; Edward F. Lonergan, who ran Gillette Europe; and James D. White, who was responsible for Gillette’s Canadian operations. Lonergan – Merger Casualty, White – Merger Casualty, DeMartini – Merger Casualty (CEO at New Balance)

Closure of ’smaller’ of Two Devens Massachusetts Packaging Plant

May 23, 2006 Gillette announced the closure of a small packaging operation in Devens, eliminating about 100 jobs. The plant is expected to close by Oct 2006.

The "pack to order" operation, which caters to retailers that need special packaging or displays for promotional reasons, will be relocated to Greensboro, N.C., said Gillette spokesman Eric Kraus.

Devens is also home to a larger packaging center in Devens, employing about 1,000 people.  The fate of this plant is undetermined, but the writing is clearly on the wall.

The interesting thing about the announcement is that it was announced on a local Boston radio station prior to any offical announcements.  So much for effective communication about merger activities.

P&G To Close 200+ Distribution Centers

Cincinnati Business Courier – April 7, 2006Procter & Gamble plans to shutter more than half of its 475 distribution centers worldwide as part of a sweeping effort to cut overlapping operations and distill its shipping network following its acquisition of Gillette Co.

Procter declined to say which centers will close or how many of its American facilities are targeted, though many are operated by third parties. The process will take place in the next year to 18 months and will include facilities that carry products by Procter, Gillette and Germany-based Wella AG. Procter acquired Gillette for $54 billion in 2005 and Wella for $5 billion in 2003
read full article

When will Gillette’s Ivory Tower Crumble

Gillette occupies around 400,000 SF in Boston’s Prudential Center. The top floors in the PRU are consisted prime real estate and can fetch $55 per square foot.

Super Bowl XL Blitz Featuring Gillette Fusion Razor

Well the Pat's didn't make it this year, so let's go Steelers!

Gillette's Fusion/Fusion Power shaving system is set to tackle the public with a TV spot on Super Bowl XL.