Former Procter & Gamble chief executive dies at 84

Former Procter & Gamble chief executive John G. Smale, the man who managed to transform both of the major international companies he led has passed away on Saturday at the age of 84 years old.

Smale was the as chief executive officer of Procter & Gamble from 1981 to 1990. While he served on this post the company managed to double its sales to $24 billion and collect earnings of $1.6 billion. Moreover 15 new product categories were created and the companies managed to expand in 23 new countries.

Smale was also chairman of the company. He started working with the company in 1952 in the dental product department.

"The man's character was defined by all the things character is defined by: his wisdom, his courage, his persistent commitment to doing what's right for the longer term -- absolutely right down the line. Never compromising," said John Pepper, Procter & Gamble's CEO from 1995 to 1999. "John was the single most inspiring leader I have ever known. Period," Pepper added for Reuters.

After the man retired from Procter & Gamble, he was chosen by General Motors' board to help the struggling company.

"He was one of the most decent people," said Charlie Luken, the former Cincinnati mayor. "When his city asked him to, he stepped up."

In 1987 the mayor asked Smale to be the chairman of the committee examining the problems the city had with the infrastructure.

"He loved his city and was he was always there," Luken said. "Any time I would ask him to do something he would say, 'Is there anything else I can do?'"

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