16. Kay S. Napier

Saying that Procter & Gamble (P&G) values go to the bone with Katherine (Kay) S. Napier isn’t just a figure of speech. It’s also a way of summarizing the crowning achievement of her 20-plus years with the company, when family heritage, professional development, and personal fortitude fused in a groundbreaking development. As head of North American Pharmaceuticals for five years through 2002, she led in a hands-on way the development and introduction to market of Actonel. Actonel protects women from osteoporosis, the decreasing bone density that accompanies aging and can leave them more at risk from fractures and attendant health issues. For Napier, the daughter of a devoted physician, there turned out to be more than inherited ...

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