Global company thrives in Southwest Ohio

People may not realize those shopping reward cards are big business. Increased demand from companies around the globe to analyze shopping trends and meet customer expectations is a big reason why London-based dunnhumby established its headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio and opened several locations throughout the United States. dunnhumbyUSA is a joint venture of The Kroger Company and leads the world in personalizing the experience of retailers and brands. Almost three years ago, the company recruited Stuart Aitken to head up the fast-growing Cincinnati location. Aitken joined the company in August 2009 as chief operating officer, just as dunnhumbyUSA christened its new 150,000 square foot Cincinnati headquarters.

From Scotland, Aitken admits during the recruitment process, his only knowledge of Cincinnati revolved around the 1970’s hit television show, “WKRP in Cincinnati.” Ask Aitken his opinion of the Queen City now and he can’t stop bragging about his current hometown that he likes to describe as a diamond in the rough. “My entire family loves it here,” says Aitken. “The downtown and surrounding areas has so much to offer young families.”

Employing more than 1,900 people in 30 offices in Europe, Asia and the Americas, dunnhumby serves a prestigious list of companies including The Kroger Co., Tesco, Coca-Cola, General Mills, Kimberly-Clark, Macy's, Panera Bread Company, PepsiCo and Procter & Gamble.

According to Aitken, Ohio’s support of companies of all sizes with access to capital and business incentives helped leverage the Cincinnati location for dunnhumbyUSA. “Ohio and Cincinnati really stepped up with job creation incentives for ten years,” says Aitken, CEO of dunnhumbyUSA. Another deciding factor was the proximity to The Kroger Co., which owns fifty-percent of dunnhumbyUSA. Aitken says his company also received a start-up loan from Kroger as well as overwhelming support from the community as a whole. “There is no way we would have had the support we’ve found here had we been in a bigger city”, say Aitken. “We are unbelievably spoiled by the treatment we receive here.”

Knowledge Company Benefits From Knowledgeable Workforce

dunnhumbyUSA is committed to helping companies put customers at the center of every decision by analyzing data for some of the world’s biggest retailers from over 350 million people in 28 countries. With those kinds of statistics, the company relies heavily on a skilled and highly educated workforce. With 205 institutions of higher education, Ohio is ranked 5th in the nation when it comes to a robust workforce which is a major advantage for a knowledge-based business like dunnhumbyUSA. Also, Ohio’s colleges and universities graduate more potential employees than many states combined, in addition to the state’s pool of skilled workers across nine key industries. Prime location allows Aiken to pull interns and talent in from several directions, including Miami University, Xavier, and co-op programs from University of Cincinnati. “Universities in Ohio, such as Miami University, are big feeder programs for our company. Last year we hired 30-plus graduates. We also work closely with area students on major research projects.”

For a fast growing company, Aitken admits filling middle management jobs can be challenging right now. In 2003, the Cincinnati location started with four employees. In 2011, the company employed more than 500. Aitken sits on the CincinnatiUSA Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors to help attract even more talent to the city, especially for highly technical jobs that can be hard to fill. “We need people with 10-15 years of experience in mathematics, statistics, retail & marketing and manufacturing,” says Aitken. “Those people aren’t living here right now and they should be. So many people who left this area end up coming back because of the work-life balance Ohio offers.”

A Great Place To Work And Live

A big recruitment tool for employees is the reputation dunnhumbyUSA has earned both on a local and global scale. dunnhymbyUSA placed first or as finalist for five years since 2006 in Greater Cincinnati’s Best Places to Work. The Sunday Times, a major paper in the UK, also placed the company in their “Best 100 Companies To Work For.” Aitken emphasizes the importance of community involvement across the company, employing significant efforts towards volunteerism and financial support of nonprofit organizations within the Greater Cincinnati community. Aitken himself is involved in the local community as vice president on the board of directors for the European-American Chamber of Commerce and serves on the board of trustees for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

Aitken also encourages his employees to achieve work-life balance by spending valuable time with family and enjoying extra-curricular activities in Cincinnati. Having previously lived in major cities such as San Francisco and Dallas, Aitken truly appreciates Ohio’s access to a balanced life. “My commute here is unbelievable. I am maybe ten minutes late if I get caught in heavy traffic,” explains Aitken who enjoys a quick ride home. “Experience a bad traffic day in those other cities and your schedule for the day is over.” Living in Cincinnati has allowed Aitken more time to do what he loves: spend time with his family and two small children. “I get to coach their soccer teams, we go biking, and we also love to experience all Cincinnati offers, ranging from professional sports to an amazing arts scene.”

Prior to joining dunnhumbyUSA, Aitken held a variety of retail marketing positions, most recently as the executive vice president/chief marketing officer of Michael’s Stores, Inc. He spent nine years with North American grocery retailer Safeway, Inc. in a series of senior level marketing and loyalty reward positions, where he managed card & loyalty marketing, data mining/innovation and category management. Aitken earned a B.A. and M.A. in information management from two universities in Scotland.

If Aitken has one complaint, it’s the small fortune he pays to fly across the pond for both business and pleasure, but admits it’s a small price to pay for the Midwest values and extra time he now gets with his wife and children in Ohio. “This is about bringing up family the right way.”

Read more success stories about executives on how locating in Ohio has enabled them to achieve both their professional and personal aspirations without having to sacrifice one for the other.

Ohio is home to many world-class companies

Ohio is home to many of the world's outstanding manufacturers and purveyors of quality goods and services. This can be attributed to Ohio's world-class industry access and support, central location near customers and suppliers, and highly skilled workforce. All of these factors contribute to providing the most affordable choice for sales, distribution and manufacturing operations in North America.

"There are many cities and towns around the world that P&G people call home, but Ohio has always been home to our corporate headquarters. We're proud of our Ohio history and committed to a future of growth in Ohio," said A.G. Lafley, former chairman of the board, president and chief executive of Procter & Gamble Company.

Check out this list of just some of the many world-class companies that call Ohio home.

Ohio is a leader in the corporate & professional services industry

Ohio's corporate and professional services industry encompasses the corporate and divisional headquarters of businesses, financial and insurance companies along with professional, scientific and technical businesses. The scope of this group reaches many of the critical support functions necessary to support other industries and clusters.

For example, Ohio is a leader in the financial industry – home to more than: 3,500 commercial banks, 750 savings institutions, 725 credit unions and 1,450 insurance carriers - five in the Fortune 1000.

With an annual payroll of $11.2 billion and more than 260,000 employees, the financial industry plays a large role in Ohio's economy. Some of the most prominent of Ohio's more than 17,500 financial companies include: Nationwide Insurance Enterprise, Progressive Corp. and Key Corp..

LexisNexis, perhaps the best known internet related and publishing firm in Ohio is located near Dayton, Ohio and employs more than 3,000 people. The information technology sector continues to be a robust and growing industry for the Ohio economy, attracting international corporations like Tata Consultancy Services in Cincinnati. Ohio has the financial strength and diversity to provide the capital resources necessary for industrial and commercial development statewide.

John Pepper finds his perfect balance in Ohio

John Pepper has always believed that by applying the lessons we learn from the past, we can improve the future. It's a perspective that served him well in his successful career at Procter & Gamble and in his personal life.

Founded in 1837, P&G itself has a long, storied history in Ohio. It was 1963 when John, a native of Pennsylvania and a graduate of Yale, joined the company. Following a series of management assignments, he became president in 1986 and CEO and chairman in 1995.

During his tenure, John was most impressed by Ohio's progressive leadership, dedicated to improving the lives of its citizens. He found a well-rounded living environment that provided the opportunity for professional and personal balance other metropolitan areas simply cannot provide.

Since retiring from P&G, John enjoys spending time with his family, and he satisfies his passion for history through the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati. John serves as co-chairman of this renowned national institution which shares stories about freedom's heroes, from the era of the Underground Railroad to contemporary times and is a Smithsonian Institution affiliate.

John Pepper could live anywhere in the world, but has found the perfect balance in Ohio, personally and professionally.

Executive shares about Ohio’s success in global marketplace

Name a country anywhere in the world and chances are Jaime Sisto has been there, developing new economic opportunities for Ohio. In fact, after working in more than 40 countries as an economic development attorney and the former international trade director for two Ohio governors, he’s lost count of the places he’s traveled.

Today, Jaime continues to strengthen Ohio’s growth nationally and internationally as the president of Value Recovery Group. "We can compete internationally because life in Ohio attracts very talented people – and keeps them here.” In addition to a talented workforce, Jaime attributes Ohio’s success in the global marketplace to partnerships with companies like AEP Ohio that share his business’s stake in the state’s economic vitality. The preferred energy partner provides affordable and reliable electricity, helping thousands of local businesses, like Jaime’s, prosper and compete.

At the heart of Jaime’s globetrotting public and private service is his enthusiasm for building upon all that Ohio has provided his family. “I live within a few minutes of where I work, shop and play, and my family surrounds me, because they’ve found the right opportunities to keep them happy and successful here.”

Although golf and hiking are high on Jaime’s list of favorite things to do, his time with family wins the top spot. In particular, Jaime and his wife like to cook. “One of the great things about living in Ohio is that I can leave work, stop off at one of my favorite markets for fresh local produce and be home cooking with my wife in less than an hour. What other metropolis can you do that in? To me, that’s the meaning of the State of Perfect Balance.”

Watch this video as Jaime shares about Ohio's success in the global marketplace and how he found the perfect balance between work and life.