Gardner  leads O-I's global sales, marketing, pricing and product innovation initiatives. His priorities include developing O-I's customer-centric go-to-market strategies, driving the company's global pricing strategy, aligning its product portfolio with existing and planned customer needs and creating commercial plans to drive consumer and customer demand for glass.

"Glass stood by for far too long and watched other packaging materials take away share," said chairman and CEO Al Stroucken. "Glass is the most sustainable packaging material available and O-I is uniquely positioned to promote that story, given our unparalleled global footprint and expertise," he added. "Tony brings a great deal of experience and understanding of our customer base. We expect he will significantly strengthen our commercial abilities and help us lead the rebirth of glass packaging."

"With more than 20 years in the consumer packaged goods space and two years consulting with O-I, I can see how the company can better connect customer intelligence and consumer preferences to build value. Customer connectivity and growth are key opportunities for O-I and I'm excited to drive those efforts," said Gardner. "We intend to significantly increase value for our customers and continue growing the global market for glass."

Gardner brings more than 20 years of business leadership experience to O-I, including management-level positions with three consumer-focused Fortune 250 companies, including Procter & Gamble. He joins O-I after five years with Accenture, where he worked with many of the world's largest consumer packaged goods companies and their suppliers. Gardner has spent the past two years working closely with O-I's innovation and marketing teams on the development of the company's innovation road map.

From the December 14, 2011, Prepared Foods' Daily News.