John Pepper

John E. Pepper, Jr. has spent a 40-year career in various positions at Procter & Gamble, including Chief Executive Officer and Chairman from 1995 to 1999, Chairman of the Board from 2000 to 2002, Director of Procter & Gamble from 1984 to 2003, and President from 1986 to 1995.

Pepper currently serves as Honorary Co-Chairman of the Board of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Pepper served as Chairman of the Board of the Walt Disney Company from 2007 to 2012. He also served as Vice President of Finance and Administration at Yale University from 2004 to 2005.

Over the past 25 years, Pepper has devoted significant time to early childhood and youth development. He was a founding supporter of Every Child Succeeds (which provides home visitation to at-risk 0-to-3 year olds), is the co-founder of the Executive Committee of the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative, and Co-chair of the ReadyNation’s CEO Task Force on Early Childhood.

As a ReadyNation member, Pepper has testified before the U.S. Senate; met with numerous members of Congress and state governors; and participated in meetings with former Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and former Secretary of Health & Human Services Kathleen Sebelius. Through his work with ReadyNation, Pepper collaborates with local business owners and executives at the state level in advocating for smart public investments to ensure that all children are healthy, educated, and successful.