Edgewell vs Procter & Gamble: Founders, CEOs and History
Edgewell was founded in 2015 by Energizer Holdings and is led by Rod Little. Procter & Gamble was founded in 1837 by William Procter, James Gamble and is led by Shailesh Jejurikar.
Company facts
Edgewell
- Founded
- 2015
- Headquarters
- Shelton, Connecticut
- Current CEO
- Rod Little
- Employees
- 6,800
Procter & Gamble
- Founded
- 1837
- Headquarters
- Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
- Current CEO
- Shailesh Jejurikar
- Employees
- 109,000
Founders
Edgewell
Energizer Holdings
Energizer Holdings is the St. Louis-based battery and consumer products company that created Edgewell. It bought Schick-Wilkinson Sword from Pfizer in 2003 and Playtex Products in 2007, building a personal care division alongside its battery business.
Procter & Gamble
William Procter
William Procter was an English-born candlemaker who settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, and built a candle-making business there. In 1837, on the advice of his father-in-law, he went into partnership with his brother-in-law James Gamble to form Procter & Gamble.
James Gamble
James Gamble was an Irish-born soap maker in Cincinnati who joined William Procter in 1837 to form Procter & Gamble. He concentrated on soap formulation and efficient production, and the company later launched Ivory Soap, known for floating in water.
CEOs and their tenures
Edgewell
- David Hatfield2015–2019
Former President and CEO
Established Edgewell as a standalone public company.
Source - Rod Little2019–present
President and Chief Executive Officer
Little has narrowed Edgewell into a shave, sun and skin care, and grooming company and framed fiscal 2026 as a back-half recovery, with organic growth returning in Q3.
Source - Francesca Weissman2024–present
Chief Financial Officer
She actively restructured the company's long-term debt and executed targeted share repurchase programs to stabilize the stock price.
Source
Procter & Gamble
- A. G. Lafley2000–2015
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
P&G sales roughly doubled in his first term. He returned in 2013 to replace Bob McDonald and began the brand-reduction programme before handing over to David Taylor.
Source - Robert A. McDonald2009–2013
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
He began a $10 billion cost-cutting programme in 2012 under pressure from investors and retired in 2013, when A. G. Lafley returned.
Source - David S. Taylor2015–2021
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
P&G returned to faster organic sales growth and won a 2017 proxy contest that ended with Nelson Peltz joining the board. Jon Moeller succeeded him in November 2021.
Source - Jon Moeller2021–2026
Chief Executive Officer; later Executive Chairman
As CFO and later CEO, he successfully stabilized P&G's declining revenue by enforcing strict pricing power during severe global inflation.
Source - Andre Schulten2021–present
Chief Financial Officer
As CFO, he maintained the company's industry-leading gross margins and managed the complex financial exit from the Russian market in 2022.
Source - Shailesh Jejurikar2026–present
President and CEO
Mumbai-born P&G veteran of more than 37 years who previously led Fabric & Home Care and served as Chief Operating Officer.
Source
Timeline: Edgewell and Procter & Gamble side by side
1837Procter & Gamble
Company Founded in Cincinnati
William Procter and James Gamble sign a partnership agreement on October 31, 1837, establishing Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati, Ohio, with combined capital of approximately 7,192 dollars.
1862Procter & Gamble
Civil War Army Contracts Fuel Expansion
P&G wins contracts to supply the Union Army with soap and candles, generating significant revenue that enables manufacturing expansion and introduces millions of American soldiers to P&G products for the first time.
1882Procter & Gamble
Ivory Soap Launches Nationally
Harley Procter and James Norris Gamble introduce Ivory soap, promoted as 99 and 44/100 percent pure and notable for its floating characteristic.
1890Procter & Gamble
Company Incorporates and Expands Nationally
Procter & Gamble incorporates in Ohio with capital of 4.5 million dollars and begins building manufacturing capacity outside Cincinnati, establishing the operational infrastructure for national distribution that the Ivory soap advertising campaign had created…
1911Procter & Gamble
Crisco Shortening Introduced
P&G launches Crisco vegetable shortening, the first hydrogenated vegetable oil product marketed to American consumers as an alternative to lard and butter.
1931Procter & Gamble
Brand Management System Invented
P&G executive Neil McElroy writes a famous internal memo proposing that each brand have its own dedicated management team responsible for competing against all rivals including other P&G brands.
1946Procter & Gamble
Tide Detergent Launches
P&G introduces Tide synthetic detergent, which rapidly becomes the best-selling laundry product in the United States and establishes the template for all future P&G brand development: superior product performance, heavy consumer advertising, and sustained mark…
1961Procter & Gamble
Pampers Diapers Introduced
P&G introduces Pampers disposable diapers, transforming the infant care category and creating what will become one of the company's most globally significant brands.
2003Edgewell
Acquired Schick-Wilkinson Sword from Pfizer
Edgewell Personal Care acquired Schick-Wilkinson Sword from Pfizer for $930 million.
2005Procter & Gamble
Gillette Acquired for 57 Billion Dollars
P&G completes the acquisition of Gillette Company for approximately 57 billion dollars in an all-stock transaction, adding Gillette razors, Braun appliances, Oral-B dental products, and Duracell batteries to the P&G portfolio.
2007Edgewell
Playtex Products Acquired
Energizer Holdings bought Playtex Products in 2007, adding sun-care and feminine-care brands that later went to Edgewell.
2014Procter & Gamble
Portfolio Transformation Announced
CEO A.G. Lafley announces P&G's plan to divest more than 100 brands and focus the company on approximately 80 core brands in ten product categories.
2015Edgewell
Spin-off from Energizer
Edgewell becomes an independent NYSE-listed company on July 1, 2015.
2016Edgewell
Bulldog Acquisition
Edgewell buys UK men's skincare brand Bulldog.
2018Edgewell
Jack Black Acquisition
Edgewell adds premium men's grooming brand Jack Black.
2019Edgewell
Cremo Acquisition
Edgewell acquires Cremo for about $235 million.
2019Edgewell
Rod Little becomes CEO
Rod Little became CEO of Edgewell Personal Care in 2019. Little has narrowed Edgewell into a shave, sun and skin care, and grooming company and framed fiscal 2026 as a back-half recovery, with organic growth returning in Q3.
2019Procter & Gamble
Portfolio Simplification Completed
P&G completes the brand portfolio simplification, having divested more than 100 brands and consolidated around approximately 65 core brands.
2020Edgewell
Harry's Deal Terminated
The $1.37 billion Harry's merger is abandoned after an FTC lawsuit.
2021Edgewell
Billie Acquisition
Edgewell buys women's shave brand Billie for about $310 million.
2024Procter & Gamble
Fiscal Year 2024 Net Sales Reach Approximately 84 Billion Dollars
P&G reports fiscal year 2024 net sales of $84.0 billion and net earnings attributable to P&G of about $14.9 billion, and raises its quarterly dividend 7% to $1.0065 per share, its 68th consecutive annual increase.
2025Edgewell
Fiscal 2025 Results and Essity Deal
Edgewell reports $2.22B net sales and agrees in November to sell Feminine Care to Essity.
2026Edgewell
Feminine Care Sale Closes
The $340 million sale of Playtex, Stayfree, Carefree and o.b. to Essity closes on February 2, 2026.
Acquisitions
Edgewell
- Billie Inc.2021$310M
- Harry's (terminated)2019$1.4B
- Cremo Masstige Grooming2019$235M
- Jack Black Premium Men's Grooming2018$90M
- Bulldog Skincare for Men2016Undisclosed
- Stayfree, Carefree and o.b. from Johnson & Johnson2013$185M
Procter & Gamble
- Gillette2005$57B
- Gillette2005Undisclosed
- Richardson-Vicks1985$1.2B
Questions about Edgewell vs Procter & Gamble
Who is the CEO of Edgewell Personal Care Company and The Procter & Gamble Company?
Edgewell Personal Care Company is led by Rod Little and The Procter & Gamble Company is led by Shailesh Jejurikar. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Edgewell Personal Care Company founded vs The Procter & Gamble Company?
The Procter & Gamble Company was founded in 1837 — 178 years before Edgewell Personal Care Company, which was founded in 2015. The Procter & Gamble Company's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Edgewell Personal Care Company.
How many employees does Edgewell Personal Care Company have compared to The Procter & Gamble Company?
Edgewell Personal Care Company employs approximately 6,800 people, while The Procter & Gamble Company employs approximately 109,000. The Procter & Gamble Company has the larger workforce at 109,000 employees, compared to Edgewell Personal Care Company's 6,800. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Edgewell Personal Care Company and The Procter & Gamble Company headquartered?
Both Edgewell Personal Care Company and The Procter & Gamble Company are headquartered in United States. Their local rules and tax obligations may still differ.
Who founded Edgewell Personal Care Company and The Procter & Gamble Company?
Edgewell Personal Care Company was founded by Energizer Holdings. The Procter & Gamble Company was founded by William Procter, James Gamble.
Which company has a longer operating history — Edgewell Personal Care Company or The Procter & Gamble Company?
The Procter & Gamble Company has been operating for approximately 189 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Edgewell Personal Care Company has been in operation for around 11 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Edgewell vs Procter & Gamble overview