Kimberly-Clark (K-C) has announced planned executive transitions and updates to its future leadership team.
The changes will take place upon completion of its pending acquisition of Kenvue, which is expected to take place in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Russ Torres, K-C President and Chief Operating Officer, will leave the company to assume an external Chief Executive role. He will remain with the company until November.
K-C said its integration of Kenvue will be guided by Jeff Melucci, Chief Strategy, Business Development and Administrative Officer, who will assume oversight of the integration plans.
Nelson Urdaneta, Chief Financial Officer, will oversee the company’s synergy delivery plans.
K-C also announced the following segment leadership changes for the combined company following close:
- Carlos De Jesus, current Group President, North America at Kenvue, will lead the North America segment.
- John Carmichael, current President of Kimberly-Clark’s North America business, will leave Kimberly-Clark shortly after close.
- De Jesus was previously announced as the future Chief Growth Officer of the combined company, and K-C said it anticipates filling that role in the near future.
- Leonardo Curado, current Group President, Latin America at Kenvue, will lead the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) segment effective 1 January 2027.
- Carlton Lawson, current Group President, EMEA at Kenvue, will step down at the end of the year as part of a planned transition and return full-time to the U.K.
- Anindya Dasgupta, who will serve as President, Enterprise Growth Markets, will assume direct oversight of the combined company’s Latin America markets.
Mike Hsu, K-C Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said: “The additional transitions we are announcing today are an outcome of continued integration planning progress and will help ensure the combined company is well positioned to capture our biggest growth opportunities.”
K-C said its acquisition of Kenvue remains on track to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other remaining customary closing conditions.
