Consumer >> CEO Interviews >> September 6, 1999
KEVIN JOHN ROBERTS, aged 47, was born in Lancaster, England. In 1969, he
joined London's trend setting fashion house headed by Mary Quant and
spent the next five years developing and marketing the Mary Quant
cosmetic brand around the world. He then joined the Gillette Company in
the U.K. with responsibility for new product development in several
overseas markets. In 1975, he joined Procter & Gamble with
responsibility for the Middle East and Africa: his brand
responsibilities included Prospers, Tide, Ariel and Head & Shoulders.
In 1982, he became President and Chief Executive Officer of Pepsi-Cola
Middle East and for the next five years drove Pepsi's business in
thirty-six countries. He was promoted to President and C.E.O. of Pepsi-
Cola, Canada which position he held for two years, taking Pepsi and 7UP
to market leadership positions. At the beginning of 1989, Kevin Roberts
was appointed Chief Operating Officer of leading New Zealand brewery
group Lion Nathan Limited, listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange.
During his tenure as Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Roberts led a team
that took Lion Nathan from a New Zealand based conglomerate to the
leading beverage company in Australia. Kevin Roberts is married with
four children. He maintains a home in Auckland, New Zealand, a loft in
Soho, New York and a house in London. He is proprietor of "Gaults"
Restaurant in Auckland, voted the best Restaurant in New Zealand in 1997
and takes a keen interest in the arts. Kevin Roberts plays an active
role in sports management and promotion and is a director of New Zealand
Rugby Football Union and of the North Harbour Rugby Football Union Club.
Kevin Roberts has lectured on leadership, marketing and business
practises in New Zealand and is a Senior Fellow of the University of
Waikato, New Zealand. Profile
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