Nathan Estruth, the recently retired head of Procter & Gamble Co.'s plastics processing technology unit Imflux, is making a run at politics, joining Ohio Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor's ticket as she seeks to become governor.
Estruth, a longtime P&G executive, was unveiled as Taylor's choice as running mate at a campaign event in Cincinnati Jan. 10
Taylor's campaign website said Estruth, 50, recently retired from his career at P&G, including his last job as president and CEO of its Imflux Inc. subsidiary, which is developing new injection molding technology.
In announcing Estruth as her candidate for lieutenant governor, Taylor positioned them as a team of outsider candidates. They face a Republican party primary challenge against Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and his running mate, Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted.
"The addition of Nathan Estruth to our team draws a clear line in the sand between the old guard establishment pairing of career politicians like Mike DeWine and Jon Husted, and our ticket of conservative outsiders," she said.
Taylor said she tapped Estruth because of his "extensive private sector experience" and because they share the same conservative political philosophy.
"Nathan is an experienced, proven business leader with a track record of creating jobs in the private sector," Taylor said. "Additionally, he has been a champion for conservative causes and a tireless advocate for the issues that matter most to Republican primary voters. Like me, he is staunchly pro-life and a defender of the Second Amendment."
Estruth said he was leaving P&G after a 26-year career but was "humbled" to be asked to join Taylor's campaign.
"Earlier today I said goodbye to the amazing men and women of Procter & Gamble and the Imflux company," he said. "It was hard, it was very hard. But I know it was the right thing to do."