"GORDON F. BRUNNER Gordon Brunner is a well known and admired R&D leader, having spent a 40 year career at Procter & Gamble, and credited with accom- plishing the launching of dozens of new and improved superior prod- ucts, as well as major advances in systems, culture, reward systems, and leadership principles for a global R&D organization. He was the Chief R&D Officer for 13 years, worked for four CEO's, and was the first and only R&D employee to be appointed to the Company's Board of Directors, where he served for 9 years. Gordon Brunner was an avid golf caddie which led to an Evans Scholarship at the University of Wisconsin. He graduated in biochem- ical engineering, and later obtained an MBA from Xavier University. During his career, he was involved with five new-to-the-world multi-billion dollar brands, all behind major technology achieve- ments. This included Liquid Tide & Ariel, Pantene, Febreze, Swiffer, and Actonel for osteoporosis.There were some fifteen other multi-hun- dred million dollar successful innovations and superior brands. P&G's outstanding technical accomplishments were recognized in being awarded the US Medal of Technology in 1995, and where Brunner accepted the award for the Company. GORDON BRUNNER i He was a student of R&D organization culture, structure, and effectiveness, and instituted major changes which have become global benchmarks. This included researcher reward systems and career path structure, ""open"" innovation, global internet innovation communication, and an internal ""new venture"" project structure. His achieve- ments and perspectives were broadly recognized, and among many awards, he was named the YEAR 2000 MEDALIST by the Industrial Research Institute. His perspective and experience were applied in a variety of large and small company boards, external new venture companies, academic research commercialization, and entrepreneurial product launches. He lost his dear wife after 44 years of marriage, but is blessed over the last eleven years with a fan-tastic & loving partner, Mary Ellen, and the joy of three daughters, and eight grandchildren. Bill James is a chemical engineering graduate of Case Western Reserve University and the University of Cincinnati. He started his P&G career in Food Product Development reporting to Gordon Brunner. He spent 36 years at P&G with 20 years in the research labs rising to Director of Food Product Development. In 1985 he became the first Director of Worldwide R&D Human Resources reporting to CTO Wahib Zaki and subsequently to Gordon when he succeeded Zaki. He later became the Global R&D Chief of Staff continuing to report to Gordon Brunner. Bill has had a life-long interest in understanding the key factors that constitute superior product development. As Gordon Brunner's Chief of Staff, he worked with Gordon on the design and implementation of the many new concepts that were implemented into the R&D structure. This, of course, included the extensive communication task necessary to sell the projects within the Company and with the global R&D organization. He has been heavily involved in R&D professional groups, giving lectures and authoring articles in the Industrial Research Institute's Research & Technology Management magazine, and the Center for Innovation Management's journals. Within his responsibilities as Head of R&D Global Human Resources, Bill led the establishment of the Victor Mills Society, an industry acclaimed top technologist professional society, honoring the top innovators in the Company. He then led the effort to create a single-track career path for all 7,000 technical members of the Company's worldwide R&D staff. It recently celebrated 30 years of successful experience. When Bill isn't absorbed in innovation studies he and his very tolerant wife, Mary Jane, enjoy both domestic and international travels. Trips to Seattle and Santa Fe provide opportunities to stay in touch with his adult children, in addition to his daughter and grandchildren in home town Cincinnati. Bill is an experienced furniture builder and has constructed the storage and display cases for his wine collection, along with many other furniture pieces. Relaxation includes a good spy novel, a favorite Bourbon and playing along with Coltrane, Brubeck or Mingus on his alto sax"
"ENDORSEMENT SUPPORT ""Major new product success is highly dependent on deep consumer understanding. Having tested thousands of new products for the top 100 global packaged goods companies, Procter accomplished this better than anybody....and it's captured here"" JACK BROWN, Retired Chairman, NIELSEN BASES ""I spent a career in advertising helping to create great brands. Great brands require great products. This book is an eye-opener to the fascinating creation of the world's most iconic consumer products"". HANK FEELEY, Retired Vice Chairman, LEO BURNETT ADVERTISING AGENCY ""Superior product innovation is possible because of our investment in technical mastery, capabilities, and people - whose brilliant minds are curious to explore new solutions, with the full support from senior leaders to learn fast, fail early, and ultimately succeed. Consumer needs and expectations constantly evolve. The experiences, learnings, and our Company's history of great product innovations in the book provide valuable guidance as we create the product innovations for the future."" VICTOR AGUILAR, CHIEF RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT & INNOVATION OFFICER, THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY ""The creation of the technical career system at Procter & Gamble has had a profound transformational impact on the R&D culture. All aspects, including recruiting, technologist retention and overall career satisfaction benefited greatly. Broad visibility and peer recognition for creative technical work that led to major business creation was achieved. And very importantly, it reinforced the fact that the Company's success is critically dependent on game-changing product and process innovation"" PAUL TROKHAN, P&G VICTOR MILLS HONORARY SOCIETY INAUGURAL MEDALIST ""Engineers consider many career paths, and the ability to learn from industry leaders highlights the opportunities and benefits of a career focused on innovation. Drawing on decades of experience with Procter & Gamble, Gordon's book illuminates th"