(Updates to add Coty CEO change)
Dec 22 (Reuters) -
U.S. cosmetics maker Coty (COTY.N) named Procter &amp; Gamble veteran Markus Strobel interim CEO, the latest consumer goods company to change its top boss this year as the sector grapples with tariff pressures and choppy consumer spending.
Here are some of the major CEO changes among global consumer goods companies in 2025:
Company Date of Details
Announcement
Unilever February 25 The company ousted
(ULVR.L) chief executive Hein
Schumacher, replacing
him with finance
chief Fernando
Fernandez.
Stanley June 30 The power tools maker
Black &amp; appointed operations
Decker chief Christopher
(SWK.N) Nelson as its next
CEO and president,
effective October 1,
succeeding Donald
Allan Jr., who is set
to retire.
Hershey July 8 Hershey named burger
(HSY.N) chain Wendy’s (WEN.O)
chief Kirk Tanner as
its CEO, effective
August 18, replacing
Michele Buck, who is
set to retire.
Hindustan July 10 Hindustan Unilever
Unilever named Priya Nair as
(HLL.NS) managing director and
CEO, replacing Rohit
Jawa well before the
completion of his
five-year term as the
company’s chief.
Kenvue July 14 The Band-Aid and
(KVUE.N) 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.
Diageo July 16 The Johnnie Walker
(DGE.L) 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.
Procter &amp; July 28 Procter &amp; Gamble said
Gamble CEO Jon Moeller is
(PG.N) stepping away from
the role, to be
succeeded by Chief
Operating Officer
Shailesh Jejurikar.
Target August 20 The retailer named
(TGT.N) longtime company
veteran Michael
Fiddelke as its CEO,
replacing retail
industry bigwig Brian
Cornell, effective
February 1, 2026.
Nestle September 1 Nestle dismissed its
(NESN.S) 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.
Walmart November 14 The company said Doug
(WMT.N) McMillon, who has
been heading the
retail bellwether
since 2014, will
retire in January
<ol>
<li>John Furner,</li>
</ol>
McMillon’s successor,
currently serves as
CEO of Walmart U.S.
and has held
leadership roles at
the company.
Kohl’s November 24 Kohl’s Corp named
Corp retail veteran
(KSS.N) 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.
Coca-Cola December 10 Coca-Cola named COO
(KO.N) Henrique Braun as its
new CEO, effective
March 31, 2026. Braun
succeeds James
Quincey, who is
stepping down after
nine years at the
helm.
Altria December 11 Altria announced
(MO.N) 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.
Lululemon December 11 Lululemon Athletica
Athletica LULU.O said its CEO
(LULU.O) Calvin McDonald will
step down in January
after about seven
years at the helm.
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.
Kraft December 16 Kraft Heinz (KHC.O)
Heinz named industry
(KHC.O) 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.
Coty
Coty December 22 (COTY.N)
(COTY.N) named
Procter &amp;
Gamble veteran Markus
Strobel interim CEO
and executive
chairman, handing him
the reins as the
CoverGirl parent
battles a steep
share-price slide and
pressure on its
mass-market business.

COTY

In 2025, several global consumer goods companies experienced CEO changes due to various pressures. Notable changes include Coty appointing Markus Strobel as interim CEO, Unilever replacing Hein Schumacher with Fernando Fernandez, and Nestle dismissing Laurent Freixe for breaching conduct codes. Other companies like Walmart, Coca-Cola, and Kraft Heinz also announced leadership transitions, reflecting industry-wide challenges and strategic shifts.

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