News Briefs

Colgate-Palmolive personal-care brand Hello Products has hired a new CEO. 

Diana Haussling announced her appointment via LinkedIn on Feb. 4, sharing her excitement about "leading an incredible team that’s redefining traditional categories with bold innovation and a fresh perspective."

Prior to this role, Haussling spent three years as chief marketing officer of North America and senior vice president, general manager of consumer experience and growth, Colgate-Palmolive. She also served as VP, general manager of digital commerce, from 2021-2022.   

In addition to Colgate-Palmolive, Haussling’s resume includes various roles at other major CPG manufacturers, including Campbell Soup Co., General Mills and The Hershey Co. 

In the LinkedIn post announcing her promotion, Haussling called out some Hello Products claims she’s proud of including that the brand is:

• The “fastest growing” in both toothpaste and deodorant.
• No. 1 in digital penetration in its categories.
• Experiencing “double-digit” growth for its mouthwash. 

"As I take on this new role, I’m energized by the opportunity to continue shaking up the industry and creating those #everydayyay moments that make hello so special," Haussling wrote. 

This was originally published on P2PI, a CGT sister brand. 

Antonio Carriero has been appointed chief digital information officer at Fossil Group, effective Feb. 12. 

Carriero, most recently chief digital and information officer at Salomon (Amer Spots), will oversee Fossil’s global technology strategy, operations, cybersecurity, and the development of future capabilities. He will also serve as general manager of the company’s EMEA business. 

While at Salomon, Carriero the company’s enhanced IT and digital capabilities, with a strong focus on driving e-commerce revenue, according to Fossil. 

He previously held senior leadership roles in digital and technology at Breitling SA and Richemont Group, where he played a key role in advancing digital strategies and technological innovation.

Fossil also announced that Joe Martin was named chief commercial officer, effective Feb. 17 where he’ll oversee all global revenue-generating activities. 

Before joining Fossil, Martin served as SVP of wholesale, team services and omni operations and marketplace, North America, at Adidas. He’s also held sales leadership roles at 3M. 

Mondelez International is continuing its focus on compliance, further investing in technologies that will streamline contractor safety, oversight, and training, as well as elevate tracking capabilities. 

To do so, the company has expanded its relationship with ISN, which began in 2013, using its Empower app to increase functionality within contractor training technology and badging. As a result, the company expects to equip its contractors with site-specific safety knowledge to increase their safety awareness and reduce incidents, said Laud Azu, Mondelez HSE director NA Master Plan.

Also read: Mondelez’s Internal Engineering Team Fuels Move to Cloud

Through the partnership, Mondelez gains access to health and safety, procurement, insurance, quality, supply chain, sourcing, and regulatory information through which it can ensure the safety of its contractors and employees.

Supply chain and demand planning company Demand Chain AI has acquired planning and scheduling software developer Replan from Coolgarif Technologies. 

Replan’s AI tech includes automation capabilities for multi-scenario planning, increasing efficiencies in the supply chain while reducing costs, said the company. Planners can generate complex production sequencing within minutes and apply the appropriate AI algorithm to increase control and visibility of demand forecasting. 

Also read: P&G Taps into AI and Automation in Supply Chain

Through the purchase, Demand Chain expands its end-to-end supply chain capabilities, incorporating Replan technology within Demand Chain’s subsidiary Puls8. Its intelligent planning tech portfolio already includes demand sensing, driver-based forecasting, demand and supply planning, and trade promotion management functionality.

Richard Davis, CEO of Demand Chain AI, said the transaction will further the company’s AI-driven strategy in supporting manufacturers of all sizes as it expands internationally. 

“I welcome this announcement as it will benefit Replan’s existing customers through continued innovation and a broader feature set. Combining Replan and Puls8 Intelligent Planning Solutions will provide manufacturers with a much-needed end-to-end solution to help optimize their S&OP,” said Richie Barter, CEO of Replan.

Technology services company Wipro Limited and supply chain planning company Relex Solutions are working together to create an AI-powered supply chain and retail planning service. 

Through the platform, consumer goods companies, retailers, and wholesalers will gain access to centralized retail and supply chain operations to elevate sales efforts while cutting costs and reducing waste. 

Through AI demand planning, CPGs can optimize internal operations and enhance supplier collaboration across inventory demand and resource planning. The platform will include real-time analytics and streamlined data integration for end-to-end supply chain management.

Also read: Relex Says Digital Channels Dominate, Brand Power Takes Back Seat as Consumers Seek Holiday Deals

“Our clients are increasingly looking to us to help them leverage advanced technologies to better forecast and manage their supply chains,” said Srini Rajamani, SVP and sector head of consumer and life sciences at Wipro Limited. “Through this partnership with Relex we will be able to deploy advanced analytics and artificial intelligence to help our joint retail and CPG clients stay ahead of market.”

Research firm IHL Group has expanded its services to include helping businesses determine if the AI juice is worth the squeeze. 

The new solution is designed to improve the success rate of artificial intelligence projects by providing a framework for businesses to evaluate and prioritize AI opportunities before investing resources. 

• See also: Why businesses stumble getting GenAI out of pilot mode
   

In addition to evaluating potential AI projects based on legal compliance, data readiness, system preparedness, skills assessment, risk factors, and business value, the ClearSight service also IDs gaps in compliance, data issues, and risk, according to IHL. 

Greg Buzek, IHL Group president, said in a statement that identifying potential pitfalls and assessing project readiness across multiple dimensions will empower companies to make informed decisions and significantly increase their chances of AI success before investing.