Biography
As President of Lever Brothers Food Division, he has created an unbroken record of increased earnings and market share growth over 20 years and has been credited with orchestrating a number of business turnarounds.
As the CEO of major consumer products businesses on three continents, William Pietersen has created an unbroken record of increased earnings and market share growth over the course of more than 20 years. He has been credited with orchestrating a number of business turnarounds, and with guiding the successful entry of several consumer product corporations into new markets.
At Sterling Winthrop’s global $1 billion over the counter pharmaceutical division, where he was CEO, Pieterson used innovative marketing and business strategies to speed growth in the Pacific Rim, China, Russia, Eastern Europe and Latin America and boost annual across the board profits by 20%.
As head of the Seagram Beverage Group, he successfully launched Tropicana in Japan, the UK and Canada while raising its US profits substantially. His leadership of the House of Seagram resulted in strong market share growth for its core brands and a significant rise in profits.
Appointed President of Lever Brothers, food division, Pietersen engineered a strategy of acquisitions, marketing initiatives and cost reductions to revitalise the business, resulting in a $40 billion turnaround in profit and a near quadrupling of revenues.
William Pietersen has also built a reputation as a teacher, visionary and advisor to senior management. He is Associate Dean and Director of Executive Education at the Columbia University Graduate School of Business. In addition, he is chairman of the Institute for the Future, a non-profit research and consulting organisation.
A motivating speaker with a special ability to articulate complex issues, Pietersen combines a background of hands-on business skills and academic business guru into one highly sought after package.
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