Ken McGuire

Professional headshot of smiling middle-aged man in dark blue shirt against blue background
Ken is an innovator with 28 yrs at P&G; $1B+ impact, 70+ patents. He created ThermaCare, Press’n Seal, and AeroFlexx, and is an expert in FMCG innovation, unmet needs, tech integration & product development.
Prior Companies:
  • Procter & Gamble
Cincinnati, OH
Core Capabilities:
  • Package & Materials Development & Innovation
  • Scale-up & Commercialization
  • Personal Care & Other Consumer Goods
  • Innovative & Academic Research Projects
Flexibles
Column: The Long Road from Packaging Idea to CPG Adoption
Estée Lauder brand Aveda is the first prestige beauty brand to adopt the AeroFlexx platform for refills. In this column, Ken McGuire, one of the platform's early developers back in 2015, looks back at three early decisions that determined whether the package could become a platform at all.
August 31, 2026
Early development prototypes show the AeroFlexx air frame, in which pressurized chambers create rigidity in selected areas of the package while other areas remain flexible enough to squeeze.
E-commerce/D2C packaging
Column: E-commerce Forces a Packaging Reckoning
As online sales surge past critical mass, brands can no longer rely on retail-era packaging or costly workarounds to protect products, margins, and consumer trust. Former P&G executive Ken McGuire argues that e-comm has turned packaging from a back-end function into a strategic imperative.
April 21, 2026
Tide EVO laundry detergent pod package with three-step usage instructions and product dispenser
Digital Transformation
Through the Line Podcast: AI Is Rewriting the Rules of New Product and Package Testing
How is AI transforming the ways CPGs can explore ideas, refine concepts, and build confidence before production? Virtual prototypes, e-commerce mockups, and rapid A/B tests now let brands gauge demand in days, not months. It's transforming how teams design, validate, and launch new products and packaging.
March 10, 2026
Through The Line Packaging & Processing Podcast logo featuring a blue gear with green leaf and heartbeat pulse design
Digital Transformation
How AI Is Rewriting the Rules of New Product and Package Testing
Virtual prototypes, e-commerce mockups, and rapid A/B tests now let brands gauge demand in days, not months. It's transforming how teams design, validate, and launch new products and packaging.
November 21, 2025
From plain pack stock image (left) to branded prototype in context (right), AI artwork and context images now take minutes, not weeks.
Workforce
When is the Right Time to Hire In-house Packaging Expertise?
Factor in whether packaging is critical to a company's business strategy, if new product forms require innovative packaging, and if recurring technical problems are an issue.
August 13, 2025
Smiling man in blue polo shirt against blurred outdoor background
Operational Excellence
Column: Emerging Brands, What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?
Fledging CPGs face a ton of early packaging decisions that will have repercussions as they scale. Being deliberate and clear eyed about early packaging choices is key. Consultant Ken McGuire, former P&G exec asks "what do you want to be when you grow up?"
February 17, 2025
Heliconia brand cosmetics
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