WSJ: P&G's head of North America business to step down

CINCINATTI — Procter and Gamble’s group president of the North America business, Melanie Healey, is leaving the company next year, according to a Wall Street Journal report.



The announcement was made in an internal memo distributed to employees on Wednesday, the WSJ reported.



The news is raising some eyebrows as Healey, who joined P&G in 1990, was once considered a potential successor to CEO A.G. Lafley.



The WSJ reports that Healey’s departure narrows the list of potential CEO successors inside P&G — internally nicknamed “the fab five” — down to four: David Taylor, group president of global health and grooming; Deborah Henretta, group president of global beauty; Giovanni Ciserani, group president of global fabric and home care; and Martin Riant, group president of global baby, feminine and family care.



The memo also outlined several other management changes, according to the WSJ. The changes put a new team of senior managers under Henretta’s global beauty business. The new leaders include Patrice Louvet as president of global cosmetics, the high-end prestige business and the salon market. There’s also Alexandra Keith, whom the company said in September would move from her post in fabric care to become president for global skin and personal care.



Healey has held several positions since joining the company as brand manager, Phebo Soap, Brazil, including group president, global feminine and health care; president, global feminine care GBU; and VP and GM, feminine care North America. She assumed her current role in 2009.

According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, Caroly Tastad, the global head of customer business development, has been named Healey's successor, effective Jan 1. Tastad has 31 years of P&G experience.