Jim Kilts is an old-school curmudgeon

When he took over Gillette in February 2001, Jim Kilts inherited one of the biggest headaches in consumer products. The once highflying company had missed its earnings for 14 consecutive quarters. It was a problem tailor-made for Kilts. When it comes to turning around troubled businesses, few managers are as experienced or as successful as he is. He has been involved in more than a dozen turnarounds. Over the course of his 30-year career, Kilts has developed something of a blueprint for fixing troubled businesses. It is a buttoned-up, old-school approach to business. And it works. Kilts has a simple solution for those who do not like his style: leave. Of his 14 direct reports, ten are new to their jobs. Those who survived the purge say that while Kilts's changes have been drastic, they were badly needed.