Joe Arcuri’s chemical engineering studies at Georgia Tech helped teach him how to grow being “comfortable with the uncomfortable.” And he’s carried that mentality as he’s pursued new challenges throughout his extensive career in corporate leadership.
Now CEO of American Greetings, Arcuri said, “I’ve had a fantastic series of opportunities that have kept my learning curve vertical. I’m a lifelong lover of learning.”
Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, with a father who worked in aviation, Arcuri originally thought he’d pursue a career as a pilot. “I have logged two million miles in airplanes, just not in the cockpit,” he said of his corporate career that has taken him around the world.
Career Beginnings and Growth
After graduation from Georgia Tech in 1986, Arcuri began a 28-year career at Procter and Gamble (P&G), starting in product development. Two years in, he found himself increasingly drawn to the marketing side, so he earned an MBA from Duke University.
Arcuri went on to lead several global business units for P&G across the health and beauty care industries. “I helped build the emerging personal health care business, which was called ‘toilet goods’ when I started, so it’s come a long way,” he said. “It was an amazing run.”
But in 2014, he felt drawn to “get back on a vertical learning curve,” taking on a new challenge as global president of Newell Rubbermaid’s home business solutions segment and then as the company’s chief commercial officer.
Finding and Creating the Right Culture
CEO of American Greetings since 2019, Arcuri emphasizes the importance of finding the right cultural fit when considering new career opportunities. “Talk to as many people as you can who work there or who’ve worked there,” he advised.
An important part of what drew him to American Greetings, a global leader in the celebrations business, was its mission “to make the world a more thoughtful and caring place.”
Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, American Greetings has more than 13,000 employees in several countries and sells its products online and in more than 60,000 stores, including greeting cards (printed, electronic, and video), gift packaging, and festive materials for celebratory events.
Over its 118-year history, American Greetings has transitioned from a family-run to a publicly traded to a private equity-owned company, so understanding the culture was Arcuri’s top priority as he came in to help transform the business for a new era.
Listening and Learning
“I spent the first months just listening and asking questions to see what was working and what could be improved,” he said.
“I manage by walking around, getting out there, seeing the products, and talking to teams, not just depending on meetings,” he said. “It’s also essential to listen to what the consumer is saying. You can’t go wrong if you start with the consumers and understand what’s driving their purchasing decisions.”
Arcuri said one of his greatest strengths is his ability to help create strong teams. “From sports to musical bands to my career, I’ve always enjoyed the creation of winning teams that gel together for a common goal,” he said.
Educational Foundation
Arcuri said majoring in chemical engineering, which appealed to him because of his interests in chemistry and math, provided a great foundation for everything he has accomplished.
“It taught me how to problem solve and got me comfortable using data as a tool and a guide,” he said. “When you come to Tech, you understand that you’ll be uncomfortable more than you are comfortable. It’s an exciting place to be because it gives you a lot of confidence to stretch yourself and grow and be able to approach any challenge and lean into it.”
Outside of work, Arcuri is passionate about spending time with his wife Maria of 34 years and their family, as well as road cycling and playing music. He’s been drumming since age eight and has played in various country/pop bands. Lately, he’s been focused on composing and studio work. “It’s a great creative release for me.”
During his career, Arcuri has always maintained a family-first philosophy when it came to making choices about how best to spend his time given his challenging professional career . “I found out early on that I could be successful focusing on results rather than total hours in the office,” he said.