Forty Under 40: Bill Norman

Bill Norman said growing up on a farm gave him a natural tendency to think about how things work.

That led him to a career in supply chain management and operations. He worked for Spectrum Brands for about eight years before joining Newell Rubbermaid where he currently serves as director of supply chain for the Walmart Business.

He leads the Newell Rubbermaid Customer Facing Supply Chain and IT teams in the United States and India.

Norman said his biggest achievement has been creating sustainable productivity and sales growth within the supply chain. He was chosen as one of Walmart’s Supplier Collaboration Award winners in 2011. Norman said his future goals include improving long-term decision making and eventually redesigning an end-to-end supply chain.

Norman’s advice for up and comers is to stay humble and grounded within their careers.

“Create, understand and follow your own guiding principles,” he said. “Always keep an eye on the pulse of where the real world takes place.”

Outside of work, Norman enjoys running, hiking and travel. He volunteers his time for organizations such as the Susan G. Komen foundation and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, as well as Newell Rubbermaid’s Values in Action Program supporting local organizations.