P&G's NEW TOP PHARMACEUTICAL EXEC HAS R&D AND DIAPER MARKETING BACKGROUND
Executive Summary
Norwich's new top exec in the P&G (Procter & Gamble) hierarchy is Senior VP Harry Tecklenburg, a 32-year veteran of P&G with seven years of experience heading P&G's research and development efforts and several years in charge of P&G's large disposable diaper products business. Tecklenburg, 53, is assuming responsibility for P&G's Norwich div. (formerly Norwich-Eaton) due to the promotion of Charles Carroll, the current head of P&G's pharmaceutical business. Carroll is moving to VP-Bar Soap and Household Cleaning Products. The management changes become effective June 1. The combination of Tecklenburg's experience during the last 12 years in research and diaper marketing provides a logical background for his new role with Norwich. From his research experience, he should be sensitive to the R&D needs of the OTC and Rx segments. The diaper marketing is one of P&G's current businesses that is related to OTC drugs in many of the outlets of distribution and in regulation. While P&G has not made any major marketing effort in the drug area with Norwich since the purchase, the firm has strongly indicated its interest in the health care segment as a significant profit center in the next decade. Other firms throughout the health care segment are keeping a close eye on P&G to see which way the firm strikes in the health market. At a recent strategic planning conference in the health field, for example, a Pfizer exec noted the potential opening for a consumer marketing company like P&G in the Rx business if direct advertising to the consumer becomes a larger force. Similarly, an exec from C. R. Bard commented on P&G's toehold in the home health care product market with its adult diapers, a category that P&G has been building for over eight years. Under the new P&G management team, Tecklenburg will report to new Vice Chairman Thomas Laco. In addition to "broad responsibility" for the firm's staff functions and P&G's food service product operations, Laco has top oversight of pharmaceuticals. Among P&G's recent quiet R&D efforts in the drug area is sucrose polyester, a zero-calorie fat for weight control in obese, maturity-onset diabetics. The substance may also have applications in the food area. Assuming Laco's current responsibilities as overall head of P&G's U.S. consumer products business, except for Norwich, will be group VP John Pepper, 45, who becomes the lone exec VP at Procter & Gamble. Along with Laco, current exec VP Edwin Artzt has also been promoted to vice chairman. His responsibilities as overall head of P&G's internatl. operations will not change, the firm said.