Catalyst Welcomes Loaned P&G Executive Colleen E. Jay (Media Release)

New York, NY (September 6, 2016)—Catalyst, the global expert on accelerating progress for women through workplace inclusion, today announced Colleen E. Jay, President, Global Beauty Specialty Businesses at P&G, is joining the organization as a Loaned Senior Executive. She will join Catalyst in October 2016, working closely with President and CEO Deborah Gillis and other organizational executives.

”We are excited to welcome Colleen, who is a well-recognized global leader in building brands. Her expertise will help support the execution of Catalyst’s global strategy and our goal of accelerating progress for women in the workplace,” said Gillis. “We would also like to express our gratitude to P&G for their willingness to share one of the company’s leaders with Catalyst—demonstrating P&G’s continued commitment to our mission.”

With Catalyst, Jay will work specifically to help influence and shape the organization’s brand strategy for the increased representation of women in business leadership. She will also evaluate and build organizational capability around Catalyst’s brand stewardship, marketing and communications to help the organization solidify its reputation as the global authority on gender equality and inclusion in the workplace.

“Colleen is perfectly suited to help Catalyst deliver its mission,” commented David Taylor, P&G’s Chairman, President and CEO. “We are eager for her to share her brand building experience, then integrate her learning within P&G as we advance our efforts in gender equality.”

For more than 30 years, Jay has built brands, businesses and organizations around the world—including North America, Greater China, and Europe, with global responsibility the last six years. She is also a long-term supporter of Catalyst, serving as a member of the Catalyst Europe Advisory Board. Jay also serves on the Board of Directors of The Cooper Companies. She is a native of Canada and a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University.

“I am absolutely delighted to join Catalyst in a more direct leadership role,” said Jay. “I’m particularly excited to merge my global ‘hands on’ business experiences with my personal passion for gender equality. To me, what is most important are the results delivered—company by company, and board by board, around the world. We have the opportunity to make a visible and tangible step change in those results, and that is where I will put my energy.”

Prior to her on-loan assignment with Catalyst, Jay will continue her full-time leadership of the P&G Global Specialty Beauty business and as the business transition leader for the merger of those P&G beauty brands with COTY, Inc.

About Catalyst

Founded in 1962, Catalyst is the leading nonprofit organization accelerating progress for women through workplace inclusion. With operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, India, Australia, and Japan, and more than 800 supporting organizations, Catalyst is the trusted resource for research, information, and advice about women at work.