Clorox Restructures Leadership Amid CEO Search, Appoints COO Alongside Chief Growth & Strategy Officer
The Clorox Co. has simplified its operating structure as it continues its search for a CEO.
The company streamlined executive oversight to optimize portfolio strategy, focus on the strongest growth opportunities and expedite execution across the enterprise.
As part of this, it announced the following leadership changes:
- Chris Hyder, previously EVP and group president for the health and hygiene categories, has transitioned to EVP, COO.
- Nina Barton, previously EVP, group president for the household and lifestyle segments, will move into a new role: EVP, chief growth and strategy officer.
Hyder's expanded role consolidates leadership of Clorox's business units under a single executive. He will drive end-to-end execution across the businesses.
Barton will be tasked with driving innovation and overseeing strategy- and portfolio-shaping to position the company for faster growth. Commercial functions will report to Barton as the company aims to install a more integrated and proactive approach that will better meet evolving consumer trends.
Clorox expects this new structure to reduce complexity, enhance accountability and improve execution to strengthen operational performance.
CEO Linda Rendle said the evolving leadership will create better execution for the company, which is becoming more focused and digitally enabled.
She stated Hyder was promoted for his experience as a proven leader with more than two decades of experience at Clorox, deep operational expertise leading the cleaning and international businesses, and a strong track record of accelerating performance.
Meanwhile, Barton's role was elevated due to her "strong growth orientation, passion for the consumer and success with insight-driven category expansion," according to Rendle.
Related: Clorox turns to predictive analytics to sharpen supply chains
"Chris will play a critical role as COO in advancing our strategy and strengthening execution across all our businesses, while Nina's deep brand-building expertise will help drive innovation and brand value superiority," Rendle said in a statement. "This refined operating structure will help us move faster and deliver stronger results as we continue to focus our investment behind faster-growing health and hygiene categories."
The CEO Search
In May, Rendle announced she would be stepping down as CEO after six years in the role due to health reasons. She will remain in the position as the search is conducted and a new CEO is appointed. She also plans to serve in an advisory role for a period after the transition.
Matthew Shattock, lead independent director of Clorox's board, said that under Rendle's leadership, the company navigated a period of significant transformation and volatility.
"She has helped make the company stronger, more agile and better positioned for the future," Shattock said in a statement. "Linda has modernized our digital and operational foundation, sharpened the portfolio toward faster-growing health and hygiene categories, and accelerated innovation while continuing to invest in our brands, people and growth."
