Success
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By 2018, you will have been in Spain for 50 years. What were the circumstances when you first started out in Spain and what expectations did you have back then?

P&G was founded in 1837 in Cincinnati, in the state of Ohio (United States), after two entrepreneurs, William Procter and James Gamble, created an association to produce and sell soaps and candles. Their activities gradually expanded to other sectors in the subsequent decades. The company currently has 95,000 employees in 70 countries, and its brands are sold in almost 180 countries.

We started out in Spain in 1968 with a long-term vision and with the aim of bringing branded products to the market, with the best quality and innovation in the world. And thanks to our consumers, P&G is today one of the leading companies in the Spanish mass consumer market. The company is continually investing in improving its operations and brands, and in its employees' development.

 

What infrastructure do you currently have in Spain?
Our head offices are in the district of Alcobendas in Madrid. We also have plants in Jijona (Alicante), where we produce diapers and feminine hygiene products; and in Mequinenza (Zaragoza), where we manufacture and export baby wipes all over the world. Barcelona is home to our center of operations, the Mataró Business Center. Our brands are iconic and highly regarded by users, with examples such as Pantene, H&S, Herbal Essences, Aussie and Olay in the beauty category; Dodot, Evax, Ausonia, Ausonia Discreet and Tampax in feminine and baby care; Ariel, Fairy, AmbiPur, Don Limpio and Viakal in household products; and Gillette, Mach 3, Gillette Venus, Oral-B, Fluocaril, Parogencyl, Kukident, Vicks, Braun and Clearblue in health and personal toiletries.

 

How has P&G progressed in Spain in these 50 years?
Spain and the world have changed radically in these 50 years. What's changed in our company is the way we interact with our customers when we broadcast information on our brands and new developments, as today this is done through precision marketing and the shopping experience, which has been enhanced by the creation of virtual stores and more physical stores. All this offers ample opportunities for interaction, although it adds more complexity to the business model.

 

What investment has P&G made in Spain and how many jobs has it created?
P&G is constantly investing in the growth of its operations, brands and its employees. In Spain we have almost 1,200 employees (52% of them women). P&G's supply chain includes purchases of almost 170 million euros from local suppliers. In addition, the company has historically been one of the largest advertisers in Spain: it is currently among the top three, and number one on television. The company also has a high regard for Spanish talent, and over 200 Spaniards perform a wide variety of roles in most of the regions of the world. P&G employees have been the cornerstone of its leadership over these 50 years: these men and women have been and continue to be the company's most important asset. We maintain a close relationship with the country's universities and education centers and we regularly organize specific current recruitment actions like CEO Challenge and Future Female Leaders, among other initiatives. They are all part of the company's commitment to promoting a dynamic, diverse and collaborative culture that drives growth and the professional development of its employees.

 

What is Spain's importance in P&G's strategy?
In these 50 years in Spain we have forged a reputation for innovation, quality, trust and leadership in the service of our consumers. Thanks to its consumers, the company has gained the top position in many of the categories in which it competes. Spain is one of P&G's five key markets in Europe and among the top 15 worldwide.

 

What projects do you currently have underway and what are the upcoming challenges?
In recent years, P&G has undergone a far-reaching transformation at different levels: our brand portfolio, our supply chain and digitization. We have made significant progress in improving productivity. At P&G we are also committed to making a positive impact on the world, marking the difference in everything we do through our global agenda for corporate citizenship. This agenda is focused on five areas: ethics and corporate responsibility, impact on communities, diversity and inclusion, gender equality and environmental sustainability. All our actions make a positive contribution either directly or indirectly to the United Nations' sustainable development goals.