Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on July 29, 2025
Dec 11 (Reuters) - Coca-Cola and Altria became the latest companies to name new CEOs as the consumer sector goes through a flurry of leadership changes against the backdrop of tariff pressures, an uncertain economy and a choppy consumer spending backdrop.
Here are some of the major CEO changes among global consumer goods companies in the past year.
Company Date of Details
Announcement
Altria December 11, Altria
2025 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.
Coca-Cola December 10, Coca-Cola named COO Henrique
2025 Braun as its new CEO,
effective March 31, 2026
Braun succeeds James
Quincey, who is stepping
down after nine years at the
helm.
Kohl's November 24, Kohl's Corp named retail
Corp 2025 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.
Walmart November 14, The company said Doug
2025 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.
Nestle Nestle dismissed its CEO,
September 1, Laurent Freixe, a year after
2025 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.
Target August 20, The retailer named longtime
2025 company veteran Michael
Fiddelke as its CEO,
replacing retail industry
bigwig Brian Cornell,
effective February 1, 2026.
Procter & July 28, Procter & Gamble said CEO
Gamble 2025 Jon Moeller is stepping away
from the role, to be
succeeded by Chief Operating
Officer Shailesh Jejurikar.
Diageo July 16, The Johnnie Walker whisky
2025 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.
Kenvue July 14, The Band-Aid and Tylenol
2025 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.
Hindustan July 10, Hindustan Unilever named
Unilever 2025 Priya Nair as managing
director and CEO, replacing
Rohit Jawa well before the
completion of his five-year
term as the company's chief.
Hershey July 8, 2025 Hershey named burger chain
Wendy's chief Kirk Tanner as
its CEO, effective August
18, replacing Michele Buck,
who is set to retire.
Stanley June 30, The power tools maker
Black & 2025 appointed operations chief
Decker Christopher Nelson as its
next CEO and president,
effective October 1,
succeeding Donald Allan Jr.,
who is set to retire.
Unilever February 25, The company ousted chief
2025 executive Hein Schumacher,
replacing him with finance
chief Fernando Fernandez.
(Reporting by Neil J Kanatt and Sanskriti Shekhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Andrea Ricci, Anil D'Silva and Alan Barona)
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