Chris Leahy
About Chris Leahy
Chris Leahy is the Head of Materials Process Delivery at Procter & Gamble PHC International, with extensive experience in R&D, quality assurance, and organizational change management.
Company
Chris Leahy is currently working at Procter & Gamble (P&G) as Head of Materials Process Delivery (MPD) for P&G PHC International since 2019. He has been associated with P&G in various capacities over the years, including roles in research and development, quality assurance, and section head positions across different international locations such as Egham, Darmstadt, and Kobe.
Title
Chris Leahy holds the position of Head of Materials Process Delivery (MPD) for P&G PHC International. This role involves overseeing the quality assurance function globally for the $5 billion Salon Professional and Prestige fragrances and skincare cosmetics businesses, leading organizational change by simplifying and standardizing the quality program across six innovation centers.
Education and Expertise
Chris Leahy studied at Imperial College London, where he achieved a Ph.D. in Chemistry from 1984 to 1990. His academic background is complemented by years of practical experience in the fields of research and development, quality assurance, and materials processing. Leahy has played a significant role in broadening P&G's corporate function process community of practice and has a keen interest in material development and digital systems to enable agile R&D work.
Professional Background
Chris Leahy's professional journey includes a series of progressively responsible roles at Procter & Gamble and PGT Healthcare LLP. Starting as a Senior Scientist in 1990, he has moved through various positions including Section Head, Hair Care and Packaging, and Associate Director roles in Research & Development. Leahy's experience spans multiple geographical areas, enhancing his global perspective on business processes and quality assurance. He has also managed organizations through significant changes such as acquisitions and divestitures, notably for brands like Clairol and Wella.
Achievements
Throughout his tenure, Chris Leahy has been instrumental in every significant global launch of P&G colorants. He has run multifunctional teams responsible for scaling up and transferring technology to manufacturing for P&G's $2 billion hair color business. His leadership has been pivotal in managing acquisitions and divestitures, particularly with Clairol and Wella, and he continues to contribute to the standardization and simplification of quality programs across innovation centers.