<div id="readability-page-1"><div> Kraft Heinz on Tuesday became the latest global consumer goods company to make top-level changes this year, tapping industry veteran and former Kellanova head Steve Cahillane as its new CEO, ahead of a planned split.Here are some of the major CEO changes among global consumer goods companies in 2025:<div><table><tbody><tr><td>Company</td><td>Date of Announcement</td><td>Details</td></tr><tr><td>Unilever </td><td>February 25</td><td>The company ousted chief executive Hein Schumacher, replacing him with finance chief Fernando Fernandez.</td></tr><tr><td>Stanley Black &amp; Decker </td><td>June 30</td><td>The power tools maker appointed operations chief Christopher Nelson as its next CEO and president, effective October 1, succeeding Donald Allan Jr., who is set to retire.</td></tr><tr><td>Hershey </td><td>July 8 </td><td>Hershey named burger chain Wendy's chief Kirk Tanner as its CEO, effective August 18, replacing Michele Buck, who is set to retire.</td></tr><tr><td>Hindustan Unilever </td><td>July 10 </td><td>Hindustan Unilever named Priya Nair as managing director and CEO, replacing Rohit Jawa well before the completion of his five-year term as the company's chief.</td></tr><tr><td>Kenvue </td><td>July 14</td><td>The Band-Aid and Tylenol maker fired its CEO Thibaut Mongon, laying what some investors expect will be the groundwork for an eventual sale of the entire company or pieces of it, and named director Kirk Perry as interim CEO.</td></tr><tr><td>Diageo </td><td>July 16</td><td>The Johnnie Walker whisky and Guinness beer maker's CEO, Debra Crew, stepped down after two years in the job, with finance chief Nik Jhangiani taking over in the interim.</td></tr><tr><td>Procter &amp; Gamble </td><td>July 28</td><td>Procter &amp; Gamble said CEO Jon Moeller is stepping away from the role, to be succeeded by Chief Operating Officer Shailesh Jejurikar.</td></tr><tr><td>Target </td><td>August 20</td><td>The retailer named longtime company veteran Michael Fiddelke as its CEO, replacing retail industry bigwig Brian Cornell, effective February 1, 2026.</td></tr><tr><td>Nestle </td><td>September 1 </td><td>Nestle dismissed its CEO, Laurent Freixe, a year after appointing him, following an investigation into an undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct subordinate that breached the company's code of conduct. Freixe was replaced by Philipp Navratil, CEO of Nestle Nespresso, on September 1.</td></tr><tr><td>Walmart </td><td>November 14 </td><td>The company said Doug McMillon, who has been heading the retail bellwether since 2014, will retire in January 2026. John Furner, McMillon's successor, currently serves as CEO of Walmart U.S. and has held leadership roles at the company.</td></tr><tr><td>Kohl's Corp </td><td>November 24</td><td>Kohl's Corp named retail veteran Michael Bender as its permanent CEO, after he served as the interim chief since May. Bender replaced Ashley Buchanan, who was fired for a personal relationship with a vendor.</td></tr><tr><td>Coca-Cola </td><td>December 10</td><td>Coca-Cola named COO Henrique Braun as its new CEO, effective March 31, 2026. Braun succeeds James Quincey, who is stepping down after nine years at the helm.</td></tr><tr><td>Altria </td><td>December 11</td><td>Altria announced that CEO Billy Gifford, who has led the tobacco giant since 2020, will retire, effective May 14, 2026. The tobacco giant announced Gifford will be succeeded by finance head Salvatore Mancuso.</td></tr><tr><td>Lululemon Athletica </td><td>December 11</td><td>The company named its finance chief Meghan Frank and chief commercial officer André Maestrini as co-interim CEOs while it searches for its new boss. </td></tr><tr><td> Kraft Heinz </td><td>December 16</td><td> Kraft Heinz named industry veteran and former Kellanova head, Steve Cahillane as its new CEO, ahead of the packaged food giant's split. Cahillane will join the new role on January 1, succeeding Carlos Abrams-Rivera, who will serve as an advisor until March 6. </td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div>

In 2025, several global consumer goods companies announced major CEO changes. Kraft Heinz appointed Steve Cahillane as CEO ahead of a planned split. Unilever replaced Hein Schumacher with Fernando Fernandez. Stanley Black & Decker, Hershey, Hindustan Unilever, Kenvue, Diageo, Procter & Gamble, Target, Nestle, Walmart, Kohl's Corp, Coca-Cola, Altria, and Lululemon Athletica also made significant leadership changes, reflecting a trend of CEO churn in the industry.

- Kraft Heinz announced Steve Cahillane as its new CEO, effective January 1, 2026, replacing Carlos Abrams-Rivera.  
- This appointment is part of a broader trend in 2025 where several consumer goods companies made significant leadership changes, including Unilever, Procter & Gamble, and Walmart.  
- Cahillane's leadership comes ahead of Kraft Heinz's planned split, indicating a strategic shift within the company.

From Walmart to Nestle, CEO churn sweeps global consumer goods makers