Procter & Gamble vs Visa: Founders, CEOs and History
Procter & Gamble was founded in 1837 by William Procter, James Gamble and is led by Shailesh Jejurikar. Visa was founded in 1958 by Dee Hock and is led by Ryan McInerney.
Company facts
Procter & Gamble
- Founded
- 1837
- Headquarters
- Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
- Current CEO
- Shailesh Jejurikar
- Employees
- 109,000
Visa
- Founded
- 1958
- Headquarters
- San Francisco, California
- Current CEO
- Ryan McInerney
- Employees
- 34,100
Founders
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.
Visa
Dee Hock
Dee Hock (1929-2022) was the founding CEO of National BankAmericard Inc., the bank-owned company that took over the BankAmericard licensing system from Bank of America in 1970 and adopted the Visa name in 1976.
CEOs and their tenures
Procter & Gamble
- 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
Visa
- Alfred F. Kelly Jr.2016–2023
Chief Executive Officer
Serving as CEO from 2016 to 2023, he heavily modernized the massive legacy network, aggressively integrating fintechs and preparing the network to process highly complex cryptocurrency transactions.
Source - Ryan McInerney2023–present
Chief Executive Officer
McInerney joined Visa in 2013 as president after senior roles at JPMorgan Chase and became chief executive on February 1, 2023, succeeding Alfred F. Kelly Jr.
Source
Timeline: Procter & Gamble and Visa 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…
1958Visa
BankAmericard launched
Bank of America launched BankAmericard, the direct predecessor to Visa.
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.
1976Visa
Visa name adopted
The network adopted the Visa name to support international acceptance and brand consistency.
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.
2008Visa
Visa IPO
Visa became a public company, changing the economics from a bank association structure to a shareholder-owned company.
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.
2016Visa
Alfred F. Kelly Jr. becomes CEO
Alfred F. Kelly Jr. became CEO of Visa in 2016. Chief executive of Visa from December 2016 to January 2023, when Ryan McInerney succeeded him; Kelly then served as executive chairman.
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.
2020Visa
Acquired Plaid (abandoned)
Visa acquired Plaid (abandoned) for $5.3 billion. Visa agreed in January 2020 to buy US data-connectivity fintech Plaid for USD 5.3 billion.
2022Visa
Tink acquisition
Visa completed its purchase of Stockholm-based open banking platform Tink in March 2022.
2023Visa
Ryan McInerney becomes CEO
Ryan McInerney became Visa's CEO after serving as president.
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.
2025Visa
Revenue reaches $40.0B
Visa reported $40.0 billion in fiscal 2025 net revenue.
Acquisitions
Procter & Gamble
- Gillette2005$57B
- Gillette2005Undisclosed
- Richardson-Vicks1985$1.2B
Questions about Procter & Gamble vs Visa
Who is the CEO of The Procter & Gamble Company and Visa Inc.?
The Procter & Gamble Company is led by Shailesh Jejurikar and Visa Inc. is led by Ryan McInerney. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was The Procter & Gamble Company founded vs Visa Inc.?
The Procter & Gamble Company was founded in 1837 — 121 years before Visa Inc., which was founded in 1958. The Procter & Gamble Company's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Visa Inc..
How many employees does The Procter & Gamble Company have compared to Visa Inc.?
The Procter & Gamble Company employs approximately 109,000 people, while Visa Inc. employs approximately 34,100. The Procter & Gamble Company has the larger workforce at 109,000 employees, compared to Visa Inc.'s 34,100. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are The Procter & Gamble Company and Visa Inc. headquartered?
Both The Procter & Gamble Company and Visa Inc. are headquartered in United States, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded The Procter & Gamble Company and Visa Inc.?
The Procter & Gamble Company was founded by William Procter, James Gamble. Visa Inc. was founded by Dee Hock.
Which company has a longer operating history — The Procter & Gamble Company or Visa Inc.?
The Procter & Gamble Company has been operating for approximately 189 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Visa Inc. has been in operation for around 68 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 Procter & Gamble vs Visa overview