St. Bonaventure alumna Deb Henretta, known as an inspirational leader and global brand innovator, will visit campus in March as the 2016 Leader in Residence.  

Henretta, a member of St. Bonaventure’s Class of 1983, is a senior advisor to SSA & Company, where she works to help companies better use big data and data analytics to drive stronger, sustained top-line and bottom-line results. She took on this new role in 2015 after a 30-year career with Procter & Gamble.

Prior to this, Henretta was the Global President of e-business at P&G. Reporting to the CEO, she led P&G’s global e-business vision, strategy and creation of new business models for the world’s largest consumer goods company. Henretta was charged with redefining how P&G innovates, advertises and sells in the dynamic and fast growing digital world. Her work is transforming P&G’s business models to win in the digital economy where nearly half of the company’s $86 billion in sales is transacted or influenced.

St. Bonaventure’s Building Extraordinary Leader series brings industry and community frontrunners to campus and highlights diverse perspectives. The yearly series, which began in 2014 and will run for five years, was funded by a gift from the university’s Class of 1963. Guest speakers are notable, high-achieving alumni.

“We are thrilled to welcome an alumna of Deb’s stature to campus,” said Dr. Pauline Hoffmann, dean of the university’s Russell J. Jandoli School of Journalism and Mass Communication. “I know the students are going to benefit from her experiences. She is excited to speak publicly — but also to get into the classroom in a more intimate way to engage with our young men and women.”

Henretta’s March 16-17 visit to St. Bonaventure will include an open presentation to the campus community, as well as small-group discussions and a keynote dinner celebration. 

2016 Schedule of Events

Wednesday, March 16
2:30 p.m., Dresser Auditorium
“Developing Your Personal Brand”
Presentation and Q&A for  EDGE student participants, as well as general student body  
6 p.m., Doyle Dining and Trustees Rooms
“Being a Leader of Consequence”
Dinner and Keynote Leadership Address
(invitation only)

Thursday, March 17
10 a.m.
“Communication Ethics”
J/MC Master Class

Noon
Doyle Dining Room
“Women’s Issues in the Workplace”
Luncheon with students, faculty and staff
(invitation only)

During her career with P&G, Henretta led a number of large global businesses including the $20 billion dollar beauty business with more than 50 brands sold in more than 150 countries around the world. In her seven years as group president of Asia, Henretta consistently grew top-line and bottom-line results, more than doubling the size of the Asia business. 

She led the global turnaround of P&G’s Baby Care business delivering four consecutive years of growth on Pampers — P&G’s largest brand — reversing a decade-long business decline and starting a growth trend that continues today.

“Deb Henretta’s skills and experiences with an international corporation and her interactions with global leaders makes her the ideal choice as our 2016 Leader in Residence. I know she is excited to impart her skills and knowledge with future leaders and to visit a campus she loves so much,” said Hoffmann.

Henretta has been consistently recognized as an influential business leader, including seven consecutive years on Fortune magazine’s U.S. and international rankings of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business. In 2008, she received a U.S. State Department appointment to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)’s Business Advisory Council. In 2011, she was appointed chair of this 21-economy council, becoming the first woman to hold the position. In this role, she advised top government officials, including President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

She is a passionate advocate for the health and education of children. As part of P&G’s Live Learn & Thrive program, Asia delivered more than 325 million liters of clean drinking water to Asia’s disaster-struck areas, improving the lives of more than 100 million children during her time as Group President of Asia. Henretta’s efforts were recognized with the dedication of a Vietnamese school in her honor.

Henretta earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from St. Bonaventure University in 1983 and a master’s degree in advertising from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications in 1985. In 2010, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by St. Bonaventure.

She previously served on St. Bonaventure’s Board of Trustees and is a member of the School of Journalism Advisory Board. She and her husband, Sean Murray, have three children.

For more information about the Leader in Residence program or a schedule of events, visit www.sbu.edu/ExtraordinaryLeaders.

______________

About the University: The nation’s first Franciscan university, we believe in the goodness of every person and in the ability of every person to do extraordinary things.  St. Bonaventure University cultivates graduates who are confident and creative communicators, collaborative leaders and team members, and innovative problem solvers who are respectful of themselves, others, and the diverse world around them. Named the #5 best college value in the North by U.S. News and World Report, we are establishing pathways to internships, graduate schools and careers in the context of our renowned liberal arts tradition. Our students are becoming extraordinary.