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    Case Study2013

    Ecolab: Building the Leadership Bench

    By Bob Barnett

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    The Challenge: Building a Leadership Bench for Growth

    Ecolab, Inc. required a robust talent management framework to build its leadership bench strength in direct support of its business growth objectives. The company's goal was to implement leadership development systems that foster individual action planning and promote career mobility. This initiative sought to maintain the strongest elements of Ecolab's results-oriented culture while introducing a clearly defined roadmap for both individual and leadership development.

    Company Context: A Global Leader in Service

    Founded in 1923 and headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, Ecolab is the global leader in cleaning, sanitizing, food safety, and infection control products and services. The company serves a wide range of industries—from foodservice and hospitality to healthcare and manufacturing—in over 160 countries.

    The Strategic Link Between Service and Talent

    Ecolab's competitive advantage lies not just in its products, but in the quality of its customer relationships and its ability to solve problems through exceptional service. This business model depends heavily on the quality of its people.

    • A Service-Intensive Workforce: Over half of Ecolab's 26,000 associates are in sales, service, or related roles. The company's 14,000-strong sales-and-service force is the industry's largest and most highly trained.
    • The Role of Leadership: Ecolab recognizes that providing superior service requires leaders who can effectively attract, motivate, and develop high-performing associates.

    Because its success is directly tied to the capabilities of its team, effective talent management strategies are central to Ecolab's business strategy. The company's recognition by Selling Power magazine as a "Best Manufacturing Company to Sell For" in 2007 and 2008 underscores this focus, with evaluation criteria including career management, retention, and promotion data.

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