Newell Brands CEO Chris Peterson: Organization Transformation Through AI

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Chris Peterson, President, CEO & Board Member of Newell Brands, a major American global consumer and commercial products conglomerate. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the company manufactures, markets, and distributes over 50 well-known brands across three core segments: Home & Commercial Solutions, Learning & Development, and Outdoor & Recreation.This episode was recorded at Newell Brands headquarters in Atlanta.Follow Chris on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-peterson-488930114Follow Newell Brands online at: https://www.newellbrands.com/Chris answered these questions: Chris, at CAGNY, you spoke extensively about an enterprise AI program you internally call "Quantum Leap". You mentioned that in mid-2025, you shifted this from isolated use cases into a broader "how work gets done" workflow model. Can you talk to us about the genesis of Quantum Leap and what it looks like today?That scale is incredible, Chris. One thing that stood out to me during your recent Leadership Summit 2026 was your mention of 33 functional "navigators". It sounds like a massive cultural shift to build AI fluency across the enterprise. How do these navigators act as change agents inside their functions?Let's talk about the tangible outputs because the numbers you shared at CAGNY were staggering. You noted a 500% increase in AI-enabled digital content creation in 2025 versus 2024, entirely without any additional investment. How has AI accelerated your innovation pipeline from concept to launch?You can't run advanced AI without clean data, and Newell has done a massive amount of simplification. You've cut your active SKUs by over 80% and rationalized the brand portfolio from 80 down to just over 50 brands. By the fall of 2026, 95% of your global sales will be supported by a single instance of SAP. How critical is that ERP integration to feeding the Quantum Leap program?Chris, driving a transformation of this magnitude isn't just about technology; it's about the people executing it. Newell Brands has a very clear set of core values: Integrity, Teamwork, Passion for Winning, Ownership, and Leadership. As CEO, how do you lean on these principles to guide your 24,000 teammates around the world through such a massive operational and cultural shift?You’ve been driving a unified "One Newell" go-to-market model and consolidating what used to be five separate operating segments into just three. How does the value of "Teamwork"—which you define as "Succeeding Together"—play into breaking down those legacy silos?Thinking about the industry, how do you expect AI to impact shopping and agents to guide consumers? What’s your advice to retail?Chris, this has been an absolute masterclass in enterprise AI adoption and operational leadership. What advice would you give others embarking on the AI journey?CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.comFMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.comSheCOMMERCE Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/Rhea Raj’s Website: http://rhearaj.comLara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.