In recent months, Ansell's management and Board have completed a broad review of the company's strengths and specific challenges. Based on this assessment, an updated and more assertive growth strategy has been developed that calls for faster and more focused execution of organic growth plans with an increased emphasis on acquisitions.
"To support this strategy, four Global Business Units (GBU's) are being established. These GBU's will have global responsibility for business strategy, innovation, product development, marketing and brand development and will work in tandem with the four Regions (North America, LAC, EMEA and APAC) who will continue to be accountable for sales, trade marketing, customer service and local warehousing. This new GBU/Region matrix will minimise the duplication of products in the different regions thus improving speed to market while reducing complexity in manufacturing and lowering cost" said Ansell's CEO, Magnus Nicolin.
The four GBU's and executives heading them will be as follows:
• Scott Papier, based in our Red Bank, NJ office (who currently heads the Americas’ Region Professional and Consumer) will lead the new Medical GBU which will be comprised of what we have historically called Professional. This GBU will also focus on expanding and building on our global medical brands such as Gammex® and Microtouch®.
• Werner Heintz, based in our Brussels office (who currently heads the EMEA Region) will lead the Industrial GBU which will be responsible for expanding our share of business in core verticals such as Automotive, Metal Fabrication /Machinery, Chemical and Pharma. This GBU will also focus on expanding and building on our global industrial brands such as HyFlex® and Solvex®.
• Scott Corriveau, based in our Red Bank, NJ office (who is currently Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer) will lead the New Verticals and Advanced Concepts GBU, responsible for developing new channels and under-penetrated verticals such as Food, Janitorial/Sanitation, Auto after market, DIY/Construction, First Responders and Military. This GBU will also house a newly created “Advanced Concepts” team focused on breakthrough innovation.
• Peter Carroll, based in our Melbourne office (who currently heads the Asia Pacific Region) will lead the Sexual Health & Well Being GBU which comprises of what was formerly Consumer (minus Household Gloves). This GBU will be tasked with enhancing our core bands such as SKYN®, Lifestyles®, Jissbon®, and Blowtex® and increasing our condom and lubricant market shares globally.
In addition to setting up GBU's, we will also reshape the sourcing and movement of products by combining the Sales & Operations Planning, Manufacturing, Sourcing, Quality Assurance and Distribution functions into an integrated Operations group. A global search is underway and it is expected that the new head of this team will be announced in a few weeks.
Finally, with acquisitions expected to play a key role in our growth strategy, faster execution will be achieved by integrating the Business Development/M&A and Finance teams. As such, Rustom Jilla will, in addition to his role as Chief Financial Officer, take on the increasingly important task of heading Business Development/M&A.