Anne Sempowski Ward

Company: Johnson Publishing Co.

Position: President and COO

Industry: Media

Country: United States

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Anne Sempowski Ward, president and COO of Johnson Publishing Company, the company founded by John H. Johnson.

As president and COO of Fashion Fair Cosmetics (FFC), Ward reorganized the business for growth, developed a myriad of new strategies, launched new product innovation and re-energized the cosmetics team for the future.

Prior to joining FFC, Ward was assistant vice president of African-American Marketing for the Coca-Cola Company.  She was responsible for implementing all business development strategies and programs to build market share with African-American consumers across all major Coca-Cola brands, including Coke, Sprite, Powerade, Dasani and Minute Maid.  

Ward also spent more than a decade at Procter & Gamble, where she led several brands and categories, including Pampers, Always, Tampax and hair care.  She had a lead role in the launch of significant African-American marketing campaigns and created the “Total You” beauty platform across P&G’s largest beauty brands.

The Detroit native received her Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science from Duke University. She also earned a Global MBA degree from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

An active member of the civic and business communities, Ward has received numerous acknowledgements for her work. She has been recognized as a YMCA Black Achiever, YWCA Rising Star, “Top Black Executive in a Major Corporation” as well a “Woman at the Top” by EBONY magazine.  She was also the youngest and first African-American trustee on the P&G Fund, the entity responsible for all of P&G’s philanthropic giving.

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