Following World War II, while the company had already expanded to many global markets, Sam’s father, H.F., was skeptical about opening an operation in Italy. But when Sam visited Italy in the late 1950s, he found Colgate toothpaste and Lever detergents everywhere.
He recalled, “We had missed it! Or, at best, we were late… It was then that I vowed never to be late getting into a market.” From that moment onward, Sam led the company through an exceptional period of global expansion, adding operations from Ghana to Greece, Turkey to Thailand and Chile to China.
Sam became the company’s President in 1966, adding the title Chairman the following year. He continued to build on the heritage of his father, grandfather and great-grandfather. His steadfast pursuit of innovation, strategic acquisitions and global expansion drove his achievements. With popular new products, he moved the company forward into over 65 countries, covering six continents