Kimberly-Clark’s Francesco Tinto on Leading AI-First Enterprise Transformation

**Francesco Tinto** (0:00)
The real differentiation comes from executing seamless the process, but to have the right understanding of the data that create the right insight to take actionable decision.

**Peter High** (0:12)
Welcome to Technovation. I'm Peter High, president of Metis Strategy.
My guest today is Francesco Tinto. Francesco is the Chief Information and Global Business Services Officer of Kimberly-Clark, one of the world's leading consumer products companies with approximately $16.5 billion in annual revenue and a portfolio of iconic brands including Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Cottonell and Kotex.
In his role, Francesco helps drive the company's digital transformation, operational excellence and enterprise modernization efforts. He joined Kimberly-Clark in 2026 after having been Chief Digital Information Officer at Advantage Solutions, Global Chief Information Officer of Walgreens Boots Alliance, and the Global Chief Information Officer of Kraft Heinz. Francesco brings a depth of perspective on how technology, data, AI, and operating model transformation can help global organizations create competitive advantage while delivering greater value to consumers, customers, and employees. I look forward to discussing Kimberly-Clark's powering care strategy, the convergence of technology and global business services, the role of AI in supply chain and consumer engagement, and the leadership lessons Francesco has learned while helping some of the world's most recognized brands navigate transformation, among other topics I'm sure we'll cover today. Francesco, welcome to Technovation. It's great to speak with you today.

**Francesco Tinto** (1:29)
Thank you, Peter, and thanks for hosting me today. Looking forward to our conversation.

**Peter High** (1:34)
I do as well. Thank you so much. I appreciate that.
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Now on to the interview. Well, let's begin with this robust business that you are a part of, Kimberly-Clark. Describe the business in greater detail than I just had a chance to, if you would.

**Francesco Tinto** (2:34)
So first of all, Iconic Company is a company that was created 154 years ago. So it's incredible, the heritage and the resilience of this company that has been really in one century and a half has been becoming a global leader in consumer goods and personal care. As you said, we are in 175 countries, so we're really touching almost a quarter of the world population, with a great portfolio of brand, of which we have $6 billion brands, which are Aggies, Kleenex, Scott and Cortex, just to name a few.
To me, it's impressive how this brand are really part of the day-to-day life of our consumer, and they are becoming almost part of the way to describe the product. For me, it's impressive when we talk about Kleenex. I will say, hey, can I get the Kleenex? I will never say, hey, can I get the facial tissues? I had actually to Google to see what's the right definition of Kleenex. For me, Kleenex is the product. So it's impressive. And it's a company that has always been reinventing themselves. And as you were mentioning, two years ago, Kimberly-Clark launched these Powering Care strategy, which is really a way to transform ourself for the next chapter, creating a durable and sustainable growth. And this is the things that is more exciting in terms of we are always thinking in terms of growth and sustainable growth, which means how we innovate in our product, how we keep understanding consumer needs, how we are becoming more and more efficient, but we never think in terms of only reducing cost or only innovation. It's really this concept of durable, sustained growth which allow us to think in terms of innovation and in terms of efficiency.
We are really excited about the innovation that we have, the journey in front of us. I think that I'm really happy to be part of this journey.

**Peter High** (5:17)
Amazing. Thank you for that overview. Let's talk a bit about your role, Chief Information and Global Business Services Officer. Talk a bit about what that entails, that combination of responsibilities that are suggested by that.

**Francesco Tinto** (5:29)
Well, clearly, I lead the Tech IT organization for Kimberly-Clark, where we are in charge of all the technical digital agenda for the company, starting from the IT infrastructure, Cloud, all the data analytics, clearly, all the programs for transformation in terms of ERP is the main one, sales capability in the market, marketing insight, marketing stock. And so all the NDAI, of course, that's all the tech agenda. The second function is about GBS, which is the shared services for the back office operation, where we really try to optimize the services for our main function through an element of offshoring as much as possible, but more important in terms of business simplification, process optimization, and as well also the automatization of the work. So more and more, we start building the capability, especially through AI, to be more efficient in the work we are doing and transforming from a manual workforce to a digital workforce. And that's where I'm really excited about the role, because then you start already looking at how technology and GBS end in end.