Reckitt Benckiser chief underlines global growth efforts

Reckitt Benckiser's chief executive officer (CEO) Rakesh Kapoor has discussed the need for the company to embrace new operating models in order to maintain growth over the next decade.

Speaking to Business Today, the company leader – who succeeded Bart Becht as CEO in August 2011 – said it has been vital for Reckitt Benckiser to improve its organisational structure to take maximum advantage of emerging market growth.

As such, the firm has been able to identify a number of power markets where absolute growth prospects are highest, allowing it to specifically tailor new products to meet the needs of regional customers.

Mr Kapoor said: "By being closer to market we are talking much more to consumers and some of our innovations at the pipeline stage have much more of an emerging market feel to them."

The firm has also been making various changes and process improvements to streamline its operations and increase efficiency, allowing it to fully capitalise on the commercial potential of its 19 powerbrands.

This comes after the firm completed its takeover of Schiff Nutrition last month, having successfully trumped an earlier bid for the company from Bayer HealthCare.