Ann Schwister, a senior executive with more than 29 years of operational experience at Procter and Gamble, has been appointed to Haskell’s Board of Directors, Jim O’Leary, Haskell Chairman, CEO and President has announced.
During her P&G career, Schwister worked with local teams in more than 60 countries, living in China and the United States, including Puerto Rico. She worked in various businesses segments, including Oral Care, Skin Care, Personal Cleansing and Fabric Care. She was a member of the team that made Olay P&G’s 13th $1 billion brand.
In the last role before her retirement, as Vice President and CFO for the North America Region (P&G’s largest and most profitable region), she was responsible for creating successful strategies in the rapidly changing North America digital and traditional retail environment.
“Our board members are vested with fiduciary responsibility on behalf of the interests of all shareholders, including our ESOP,” O’Leary said. “The selection criteria include strong business acumen, proven leadership, integrity, and a shared commitment to Haskell’s mission, vision and values. Ann certainly brings these qualities and more to our board. We’re fortunate to have someone of her background, expertise and character join us.”
She held many roles across Procter and Gamble, including Vice President and CFO for the Global Oral Care business and Vice President and CFO for the Greater China Region. She also served on the CFO committee of the Grocery Manufacturers Association.
After retiring from P&G in 2018, she took over the structural steel erection business that her father founded in the family’s basement when she was 3 years old and ran for 49 years. She views this work as the capstone of her career.
“I am honored to join the Haskell Family,” Schwister said. “I am impressed by the company’s track record of growth and innovation and its culture, especially the focus on team members as its key asset. I have a deep connection to the AEC industry, and I look forward to learning even more and leveraging my skills and experiences to help achieve the Haskell 2025 vision.”
In addition to serving currently as the Principal of Ann M. Schwister Associates LLC, she serves on the Board of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, chairing the Communities Strategies Committee and serving on the Finance and Audit Committee. She is also a board member and Audit Committee Chair for PARTS iD, a New York Stock Exchange-listed digital commerce company focused on creating custom infrastructure and unique user experiences within niche markets.
She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in Finance with a specialization in International Business. She lives in Cincinnati with her spouse, Juan Carlos Santamarina, a history professor at the University of Dayton. The couple have one child, Andrew Santamarina, who she confirms is following in his parents’ footsteps as a junior at UW.
