Jim Stengel

Jim Stengel (born James R. Stengel on May 5, 1955) is an American businessman, author, professor, and public speaker. He served as the global marketing officer of Procter & Gamble from 2001 to 2008. Stengel is currently the president and CEO of The Jim Stengel Company, where he advocates for ideals-driven businesses and brands. In December 2011, he released his first book, Grow: How Ideals Power Growth and Profit at the World’s Greatest Companies.

Jim Stengel grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in a family of six children. He graduated from Lancaster Catholic High School in 1973. He received his B.A. from Franklin & Marshall College in 1977. Stengel then spent four years (1977–1981) working for Time Inc. in the Time-Life books division. In 1983, he completed his M.B.A. from The Pennsylvania State University (Smeal College of Business).

Stengel joined Procter & Gamble (P&G) in September 1983. While there, he earned increasing responsibility in P&G’s developing markets, cosmetic, food, and baby-care businesses. Prior to his promotion to global marketing officer, Stengel held the following positions at P&G:

• 1983—Brand Assistant, Ducan Hines RTS Cookies
• 1984—Assistant Brand Manager, Jif
• 1986—Brand Manager, Jif
• 1989—Associate Advertising Manager, Jif and Duncan Hines Baking Mixes
• 1991—Advertising Manager, Shortening and Oils, Olestra
• 1993—Marketing Director, U.S. Cosmetic Products, Hunt Valley
• 1995—General Manager, Czech and Slovak Republics, P&G Europe, Middle East, and Africa
• 1997—General Manager, Europe, Baby Care
• 1999—Vice President, Europe, Baby Care
• 2000—Vice President, Global Baby Care Strategic Planning, Marketing, and New Business Development

In August 2001, Jim Stengel was named the global marketing officer (GMO) of Procter & Gamble. As GMO, he oversaw an $8 billion advertising budget and had organizational responsibility for nearly 7,000 people. In his seven years as GMO, P&G doubled its sales.

In November 2008, Stengel left his role as global marketing officer at Procter & Gamble.

After Procter & Gamble, Stengel set out on a new mission to help grow businesses through a focus on higher ideals. He became president and CEO of the Jim Stengel Company, LLC.

The Jim Stengel Company is both a think tank and a consultancy, conducting proprietary research, generating thought leadership, and applying a new ideals-driven framework to drive business growth in today's global economy. The company’s mission is to inspire global business leaders to achieve higher performance by rethinking their ideal and all behaviors emanating from that ideal. Stengel and his team are currently working with clients in tech, fashion, retail, food service, automotive, and wine/spirits.

In December 2011, Jim Stengel published his first book, Grow: How Ideals Power Growth and Profit at the World’s Greatest Companies, with Crown Publishing Group. A global analysis of a 10-year growth study involving 50,000 brands was conducted in partnership with Millward Brown Optimor and the UCLA Anderson School of Management. Based on this study, Jim Stengel’s book shows how the world’s 50 best businesses—The Stengel 50—have a cause-and-effect relationship between financial performance and their ability to connect with fundamental human emotions, hopes, values, and greater purposes.

Stengel is currently working on his second book with details to be released on his blog in the near future.

Public Speaking

Jim Stengel is a professional speaker with the Washington Speakers Bureau. He has presented at numerous events, including the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival and the Association of National Advertisers Conference.

Teaching

Stengel has focused on giving back by inspiring the next generation of business professionals. In June 2009, he was appointed an adjunct professor of marketing at the UCLA Anderson School of Management.

In 2011, Stengel served as dean of the first-ever Cannes Creative Academy for Young Marketers at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

Advising

Jim is a former member of the board of directors for AOL and Motorola Mobility. He currently serves as an advisor for MarketShare, and for Myrian Capital. In the past, he was on the board of The Advertising Council, was chairman of the Association of National Advertisers, and was chairman of the American Advertising Federation Hall of Fame.

Honors and Public Recognition

Jim Stengel was recognized in 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007 by Advertising Age as the number-one “Power Player” in marketing. In 2005, he was recognized as Grand Marketer of the Year by Brandweek magazine, the same year P&G was named Marketer of the Year by Advertising Age. In 2011, Jim was named to the first-ever Fortune Executive Dream Team.