Kimberly-Clark Announces Planned Executive Transitions and Updates to Post-Closing Leadership Team
Kimberly-Clark anticipates filling the future Chief Growth Officer role after reassigning Carlos De Jesus to North America.
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Rhea-AI Summary
Kimberly-Clark (KMB) announced planned executive transitions and revised leadership assignments for the combined company following its pending acquisition of Kenvue.
President and Chief Operating Officer Russ Torres, who also heads integration management, will leave for an external CEO role and remain until November. Kenvue's Carlos De Jesus will lead North America after closing; Kimberly-Clark's John Carmichael will leave shortly afterward. Kenvue's Leonardo Curado will lead Europe, Middle East and Africa effective January 1, 2027, while Carlton Lawson will step down at year-end. Kimberly-Clark expects the acquisition to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and other remaining customary closing conditions.
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Hollow bars mark forward-looking points. How the balance works
Positive
- Moderate point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.Kenvue acquisition remains expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, Kimberly-Clark said.
Negative
- Minor pointKenvue acquisition closing remains subject to receipt of regulatory approvals.
News Explained
De Jesus retains a global remit; Dasgupta takes direct oversight of Latin America, while the Chief Growth Officer role remains unfilled.
With the Kenvue acquisition still pending, Kimberly-Clark says Jeff Melucci will oversee integration plans and programs, while CFO Nelson Urdaneta will oversee synergy delivery.
For the combined company's growth organization, Carlos De Jesus will continue overseeing the Global Growth Organization during the transition, and Anindya Dasgupta will assume direct oversight of Latin America; Kimberly-Clark expects to fill De Jesus's future Chief Growth Officer role in the near future.
Key Figures
- Expected acquisition close
- Fourth quarter of 2026
- Pending Kenvue acquisition
- EMEA leadership transition
- January 1, 2027
- Leonardo Curado to lead the EMEA segment
- Russ Torres transition period
- Until November
- Will remain with Kimberly-Clark before departing
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Russ Torres to Depart Kimberly-Clark for External CEO Role
Carlos De Jesus to be Appointed as President,
Russ Torres, President and Chief Operating Officer of Kimberly-Clark, and Head of the Integration Management Office (IMO), will leave the company to assume an external CEO role. He will remain with the company until November to ensure a smooth and seamless transition.
"Since joining Kimberly-Clark in 2020, Russ has made a significant impact on our people, business and brands," said Mike Hsu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Kimberly-Clark. "He has played a key role in building a strong foundation in
Kimberly-Clark's integration of Kenvue will be guided by deeply experienced leaders including Jeff Melucci, Chief Strategy, Business Development and Administrative Officer, who will assume oversight of the integration plans and programs. Nelson Urdaneta, Chief Financial Officer, will oversee Kimberly-Clark's synergy delivery plans.
Kimberly-Clark also announced the following segment leadership changes for the combined company following close:
- Carlos De Jesus, current Group President,
North America at Kenvue, will lead theNorth America segment. John Carmichael, current President of Kimberly-Clark'sNorth America business, will leave Kimberly-Clark shortly after close. Mr. De Jesus was previously announced as the future Chief Growth Officer of the combined company, and Kimberly-Clark anticipates filling that role in the near future. Mr. De Jesus will continue to oversee the Global Growth Organization during this transition, working closely with future Chief Marketing Officer, Jonathan Halvorson. - Leonardo (Leo) Curado, current Group President,
Latin America at Kenvue, will lead theEurope ,Middle East , andAfrica (EMEA) segment effective January 1, 2027. Carlton Lawson, current Group President, EMEA at Kenvue, will step down at the end of the year as part of a planned transition and return full-time to theU.K . Mr. Curado and Mr. Lawson will work closely together throughout the fourth quarter to execute a smooth transition. Mr. Curado was previously announced as the future General Manager LATAM for the combined company. Anindya Dasgupta, who will serve as President, Enterprise Growth Markets, will assume direct oversight of the combined company'sLatin America markets.
Hsu continued, "The additional transitions we are announcing today are an outcome of continued integration planning progress and will help ensure the combined company is well positioned to capture our biggest growth opportunities. Carlos has decades of experience across consumer health categories and need states, and by all accounts, has made an immediate impact in his first year at Kenvue, setting the stage for continued growth. Leo is a proven executive with a 25-year track record in general management, sales, and marketing across a broad range of diverse markets. I look forward to working closely with them, and our entire team, as we work to unlock the full potential of our combined portfolio, iconic brands, and talented people."
Hsu concluded, "Carlton's passion for the brands has been infectious, and his investment in people and leaders set the stage for EMEA to go from strength to strength. We appreciate his leadership and wish him all the best in his next chapter."
Kimberly-Clark's acquisition of Kenvue remains on track to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other remaining customary closing conditions.
About Kimberly-Clark
Kimberly-Clark (NASDAQ: KMB) and its trusted brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries and territories. Our portfolio of brands, including Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle, Poise, Depend, Pull-Ups, Goodnites, Intimus, Plenitud, Sweety, Softex, Viva and WypAll, hold No. 1 or No. 2 share positions in approximately 70 countries. Our company's purpose is to deliver Better Care for a Better World. We are committed to using sustainable practices designed to support a healthy planet, build strong communities, and enable our business to thrive for decades to come. To keep up with the latest news and learn more about the company's more than 150-year history of innovation, visit the Kimberly-Clark website.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain matters contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are based upon management's expectations and beliefs concerning future events impacting Kimberly-Clark. There can be no assurance that these future events will occur as anticipated or that our results will be as estimated. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update them. The assumptions used as a basis for the forward-looking statements include many estimates that, among other things, depend on many factors outside our control, including risks and uncertainties around the pending Kenvue acquisition (including the risk that the anticipated benefits and synergies of the acquisition may not be realized when expected or at all, the terms and scope of the expected financing in connection with the acquisition may prove to be less favorable than currently expected, that the acquisition may not be completed in a timely matter or at all and the risk of litigation related to the acquisition). The factors described under Item 1A, "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, or in our other SEC filings, among others, could cause our future results to differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf. Other factors not presently known to us or that we presently consider immaterial could also affect our business operations and financial results.
[KMB-F] [KMB-C]
Contacts
Investor Relations:
Christopher Jakubik, CFA
KC.InvestorRelations@kcc.com
Media Relations:
Kyrsten Aspegren
media.relations@kcc.com
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SOURCE Kimberly-Clark Corporation
FAQ
AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Who will lead Kimberly-Clark's North America and EMEA segments after the Kenvue acquisition?
Carlos De Jesus will lead North America following closing, and Leonardo Curado will lead Europe, Middle East and Africa effective January 1, 2027. De Jesus currently leads Kenvue's North America group, while Curado currently leads its Latin America group.
Who will oversee Kimberly-Clark's Kenvue integration after Russ Torres leaves?
Jeff Melucci, Chief Strategy, Business Development and Administrative Officer, will assume oversight of integration plans and programs. Chief Financial Officer Nelson Urdaneta will oversee Kimberly-Clark's synergy delivery plans.
Who will oversee Latin America for Kimberly-Clark's combined company after the Kenvue acquisition?
Anindya Dasgupta, who will serve as President, Enterprise Growth Markets, will assume direct oversight of the combined company's Latin America markets. Leonardo Curado had previously been announced as the future General Manager LATAM but will instead lead EMEA.
What happens to Kimberly-Clark's planned Chief Growth Officer role after Carlos De Jesus is reassigned?
Kimberly-Clark anticipates filling the Chief Growth Officer role in the near future. De Jesus, previously announced for that role, will continue overseeing the Global Growth Organization during the transition, working closely with future Chief Marketing Officer Jonathan Halvorson.