Bob McDonald (businessman) explained

Bob McDonald
Office:8th United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs
President:Barack Obama
Deputy:Sloan Gibson
Term Start:July 30, 2014
Term End:January 20, 2017
Predecessor:Eric Shinseki
Successor:David Shulkin
Birth Name:Robert Alan McDonald
Birth Date:20 June 1953
Birth Place:Gary, Indiana, U.S.
Spouse:Diane McDonald
Children:2
Education: (BS)
University of Utah (MBA)
Allegiance: United States
Rank: Captain
Serviceyears:1975–1980
Mawards:Meritorious Service Medal[1]
Unit:82nd Airborne Division

Robert Alan McDonald (born June 20, 1953) served as the eighth United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs. He is the retired chairman, president, and CEO of Procter & Gamble.[2] In 2014 he became Secretary of Veterans Affairs.[3] [4]

Early life and education

McDonald was born on June 20, 1953, in Gary, Indiana, and grew up in Chicago.[5] He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1975 in the top 2% of his class with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering.[6] [7] At West Point he served as the Brigade Adjutant for the Corps of Cadets and was awarded the Silver Medal from the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacturing and Commerce.[7] [8] After graduation, he served in the U.S. Army for five years, primarily in the 82nd Airborne Division, attaining the rank of captain,[6] and earned an MBA from the University of Utah in 1978.[9] Upon leaving the military he received the Meritorious Service Medal.[10]

Career

McDonald joined Procter & Gamble in 1980[11] and worked in various roles before becoming president and Chief Executive in 2009.[12] He assumed the Chairman of the Board role 2010. As chief executive officer, McDonald oversaw a $10 billion restructuring plan.[13] [14] [15]

Amid the 2008 economic downturn, investors criticized McDonald for being too attached to P&G traditions, too slow to pursue layoffs and other cuts, and unable to produce new product innovations, particularly compared to his predecessor and replacement A.G. Lafley.[16] He resigned from P&G in 2013 following pressure from the company board and activist investors such as Bill Ackman; he was replaced by his predecessor A.G. Lafley, who returned from retirement.[17] [18] [19]

In 2014 McDonald led a community-based task force to help the city of Cincinnati renovate its Museum Center, which succeeded when Hamilton County passed a tax levy to fund the initiative.[20] [21]

U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs

McDonald succeeded Eric Shinseki, who resigned in 2014, due to the Veterans Health Administration scandal of 2014.[22]

In 2014, U.S. President Obama nominated McDonald to the Cabinet position of United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs.[23]

Obama cited McDonald's business background with P&G and experience revitalizing organizations in his decision.[24] McDonald was approved by the United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the full Senate by unanimous vote.[25]

McDonald recruited new medical personnel in the early months of his tenure at VA. As of June 2015, VA had increased onboard staff.[26] McDonald opposed privatization of the VA. Donald Trump replaced him with David Shulkin, who also opposed privatization, and was also replaced.[27]

Controversy

In 2015, McDonald admitted he misspoke trying to engage a homeless veteran about his serving in the U.S. Army Special Forces, a conversation that was recorded by a CBS television news crew accompanying him during a nationwide count of homeless veterans. "I have no excuse, I was not in the special forces" he told The Huffington Post, which first broke the story.[28] The Huffington Post reported that "special operations forces" includes the Army Rangers and that McDonald "completed Army Ranger training and took courses in jungle, arctic and desert warfare. He qualified as a senior parachutist and airborne jumpmaster, and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division until he resigned his commission in 1980. While he earned a Ranger tab designating him as a graduate of Ranger School, he never served in a Ranger battalion or any other special operations unit."

Philanthropy

McDonald and his wife, Diane, founded the McDonald Conference for Leaders of Character.[29]

Personal life

In July 2020, McDonald was appointed by the George W. Bush Institute as the April and Jay Graham Fellow where he serves as a member of the Military Service Initiative team.[30] In September 2020, McDonald was selected by presidential nominee Joe Biden to be a member of his transition team's advisory board.[31]

McDonald donated a statue of General Ulysses S. Grant that was unveiled on April 25, 2019, on The Plain at West Point.[32]

In 2007, McDonald received the inaugural Leadership Excellence Award from the U.S. Naval Academy and Harvard Business Review. He serves on the Board of Directors of Xerox,[33] the McKinsey Advisory Council,[34] and the Singapore International Advisory Council of the Economic Development Board.[35]

McDonald and his wife, Diane, have two children.

Notes and References

  1. News: Holland. Steve. June 29, 2014. Obama to nominate former P&G CEO Bob McDonald as veterans secretary. Reuters. 30 April 2021.
  2. Web site: Bob McDonald Biography. February 24, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20130511085540/http://www.pg.com/en_US/company/purpose_people/executive_team/bob_mcdonald.shtml. May 11, 2013. dead. mdy-all.
  3. Web site: Obama selects former Procter and Gamble executive Robert McDonald to head Veterans Affairs.
  4. http://www.periodicalpress.senate.gov Profile
  5. Web site: Pace. Julie . Obama picks former Procter & Gamble head Robert McDonald to lead Veterans Affairs . The Dallas Morning News. August 21, 2014.
  6. News: Eilperin . Juliet. Bob McDonald, former P&G chief, to be Obama's nominee to lead Veterans Affairs . 25 January 2021 . The Washington Post . 29 June 2014.
  7. Web site: Member Profile: Robert A. McDonald . Horatio Alger Association . 25 January 2021.
  8. News: Alexander . Antoine . Reports: Former P&G chief Robert McDonald to lead Veterans Affairs . 25 January 2021 . Drug Store News . 30 June 2014.
  9. News: University of Utah grad has ambitious plans as new CEO of P&G . 25 January 2021 . Desert News (Associated Press) . 11 June 2009.
  10. Web site: Bennet Joins Senate to Confirm New VA Secretary . Senate.gov . August 21, 2014.
  11. Web site: Bob McDonald Biography. July 19, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20130511085540/http://www.pg.com/en_US/company/purpose_people/executive_team/bob_mcdonald.shtml. May 11, 2013. dead. mdy-all.
  12. Reingold. Jennifer. February 25, 2013. Can P&G's CEO Hang On?. Fortune. 167. 3. 66–75.
  13. News: UPDATE 4-P&G posts solid quarter, gives CEO more breathing room. reuters.com. January 25, 2013 . January 6, 2021.
  14. Web site: Procter & Gamble to unveil restructuring plan this year. bizjournal.com. January 6, 2021.
  15. Web site: Jim. Edwards. P&G CEO Bob McDonald Steps Down After Pressure From Bill Ackman, Activist Investor. businessinsider.com. January 6, 2021.
  16. News: V.A. Nominee McDonald Faced Criticism at Procter & Gamble. Oppel. Richard A. Jr.. June 30, 2014. The New York Times. October 23, 2017 . en-US. 0362-4331.
  17. News: Ackman wins, P&G dumps CEO . Isidore . Chris. CNNMoney. October 23, 2017.
  18. Web site: Return of P&G's former CEO puts his reputation at stake Seattle Times Newspaper. old.seattletimes.com. October 23, 2017.
  19. News: Robert A. McDonald retiring from P&G. Reuters . May 23, 2013. July 1, 2017. September 24, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924181504/http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/23/procter-ceo-idUSL2N0E42GZ20130523. live.
  20. Web site: The Enquirer. Bob McDonald ready for next act. www.cincinnati.com. The Enquirer. June 12, 2019.
  21. Web site: The News Record. Union terminal levy passes. www.newsrecord.org. November 5, 2014 . The News Record. July 16, 2019.
  22. News: Nelson. Colleen McCain. Ng. Serena. Former Procter & Gamble CEO Tapped as New VA Secretary . The Wall Street Journal . June 30, 2014 . July 1, 2014.
  23. https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/07/07/presidential-nomination-sent-senate McDonald nominated as Secretary of Veterans Affairs
  24. Web site: Remarks by the President at Nomination of Robert McDonald as Secretary of Veterans Affairs . whitehouse.gov. June 30, 2014 . National Archives. March 31, 2016.
  25. http://www.veterans.senate.gov/newsroom/minority-news/committee-unanimously-supports-senate-confirmation-of-va-nominee Senate committee unanimously supports McDonald confirmation as Secretary of Veterans Affairs
  26. Web site: VA Making Progress to Improve Service for Veterans. 2020-09-30.
  27. http://www.msnbc.com/transcripts/rachel-maddow-show/2018-04-26 Jackson withdraws from nomination for VA Secretary. Interview with Robert McDonald, former secretary. By Rachel Maddow. The Rachel Maddow Show. MSNBC. April 26, 2018
  28. Web site: Huffington Post. VA Secretary Robert McDonald Falsely Claimed He Served In Special Forces. The Huffington Post. February 24, 2015 . February 24, 2015.
  29. Web site: Spotlight on Leaders. April 3, 2019. NY Times Education.
  30. Web site: George W. Bush Presidential Center. Bush Institute Announces Endowed Fellows to Advance Mission and Broaden Expertise. bushcenter.org. September 22, 2020.
  31. Web site: Biden expands transition team, adding key campaign allies and top Obama-Biden policy hands. 2020-09-18. CNN. September 5, 2020 . en.
  32. Web site: RecordOnline. West Point unveils statue of Grant. www.recordonlilne.com. Times Herald-Record. April 30, 2019.
  33. Web site: Robert McDonald, Director since: 2005 . www.xerox.com . en.
  34. Web site: Bob McDonald - Thayer Development Group . www.thayerleaderdevelopment.com.
  35. Web site: International Advisory Council . www.edb.gov.sg.