Speaker Bio
Jon Harding is the Global CIO of Conair Corporation, a multi-billion dollar consumer product company focused on personal care products, counter-top kitchen appliances, and health and beauty products used by professionals and consumers. Jon has worldwide responsibility for the company's IT and digital services in support of both day-to-day business operations and future business growth.
During his tenure, the Conair IT team has completed: global rollout of a centralized ERP system replacing 25 different legacy ERP systems with one single platform (SAP); global business integration via a standardized IT network; seamless integration of 8 acquired businesses; and supported opening of 7 new businesses. The company has doubled revenue and increased global reach multiple times during this period.
Before joining Conair, Harding was Divisional CIO for the U.S. Snacks Division of Kellogg Company (formerly the Keebler Company) that Kellogg’s acquired in 2001. Prior to 2001, he held various IT leadership positions within Kellogg’s Europe, including overall leader of a major business process change initiative for Kellogg’s Europe.
A graduate of the University of Sheffield in England, he has 25 years of IT management experience in the consumer products industry. He shares this experience industry-wide through his membership of the Executive Advisory Board of “Consumer Goods Technology” and industry-leading eCommerce and CIO strategy events. Jon co-founded and chairs the Princeton CIO Roundtable which meets quarterly for peer group sharing of ideas and experiences across industries and all digital technologies. A focus on training and developing future digital leaders has led Jon to be a guest lecturer at both MIT and Columbia Business School’s “CIO Institute”.
Recently Jon has been focused on digital-enabled improvements to the business in various parts of the world. These improvements have involved new eCommerce and social media analytics platforms to help realize digital marketing advantages through more direct consumer engagement. The business outcomes have been revenue through direct sales to salons and individual consumers and accelerated brand growth through increased engagement with consumers via digital channels.
During his tenure, the Conair IT team has completed: global rollout of a centralized ERP system replacing 25 different legacy ERP systems with one single platform (SAP); global business integration via a standardized IT network; seamless integration of 8 acquired businesses; and supported opening of 7 new businesses. The company has doubled revenue and increased global reach multiple times during this period.
Before joining Conair, Harding was Divisional CIO for the U.S. Snacks Division of Kellogg Company (formerly the Keebler Company) that Kellogg’s acquired in 2001. Prior to 2001, he held various IT leadership positions within Kellogg’s Europe, including overall leader of a major business process change initiative for Kellogg’s Europe.
A graduate of the University of Sheffield in England, he has 25 years of IT management experience in the consumer products industry. He shares this experience industry-wide through his membership of the Executive Advisory Board of “Consumer Goods Technology” and industry-leading eCommerce and CIO strategy events. Jon co-founded and chairs the Princeton CIO Roundtable which meets quarterly for peer group sharing of ideas and experiences across industries and all digital technologies. A focus on training and developing future digital leaders has led Jon to be a guest lecturer at both MIT and Columbia Business School’s “CIO Institute”.
Recently Jon has been focused on digital-enabled improvements to the business in various parts of the world. These improvements have involved new eCommerce and social media analytics platforms to help realize digital marketing advantages through more direct consumer engagement. The business outcomes have been revenue through direct sales to salons and individual consumers and accelerated brand growth through increased engagement with consumers via digital channels.