Pepsi Executive Picked To Lead U.K.'s Reckitt -- WSJ
June 13 2019 - 3:02AM
Dow Jones News
By Saabira Chaudhuri
This article is being republished as part of our daily
reproduction of WSJ.com articles that also appeared in the U.S.
print edition of The Wall Street Journal (June 13, 2019).
LONDON -- Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC has tapped one of PepsiCo.
Inc.'s most senior people to be its new chief executive, as the
supplier of Durex condoms and Dettol cleaning products looks to
revive growth after a challenging few years.
The U.K.-based company said Wednesday that Laxman Narasimhan,
currently Pepsi's global chief commercial officer, would join
Reckitt in July before taking the reins from CEO Rakesh Kapoor in
September.
At Pepsi, Mr. Narasimhan had been tipped as a potential
successor to CEO Indra Nooyi before the role went last year to
Ramon Laguarta. His exit is the latest senior departure from the
beverage-and-snacks company following that of its chief scientific
officer in March.
Just three months ago Mr. Narasimhan was appointed Pepsi's
commercial head, a new position focused on creating long-term
strategy for the soda giant. He previously led the company's
operations in Latin America, Europe and sub-Saharan Africa.
Reckitt began its search for a new CEO earlier this year after
announcing that Mr. Kapoor would step down at the Slough,
England-based company by year-end.
Mr. Kapoor, who has run Reckitt since 2011, is credited with
pushing it deeper into higher-margin consumer-health products and
away from slower-growing packaged food. He split the company into
two divisions, running the consumer-health business himself and
putting the home-and-hygiene division in the hands of a deputy.
For years, Reckitt was seen as an example of how a
consumer-goods company should operate. It consistently delivered
strong sales and ample profit margins, reflecting a laser focus on
costs and products like fast-acting painkillers and dishwasher
tablets that it convinced consumers to pay more for.
However, the company also attracted criticism from investors
during Mr. Kapoor's tenure for its high pay. And more recently the
low-cost model's performance has been questioned amid high turnover
among senior executives, volatile sales growth and narrowing
margins -- all challenges awaiting Reckitt's new CEO.
After a period of strong growth, Reckitt has run into trouble,
including a cyberattack, failed innovations and manufacturing
disruption. Also, confronted by protests in South Korea, management
had to apologize for a humidifier disinfectant that killed more
than 100 people. More recently, Reckitt reported weak first-quarter
sales in its consumer-health arm, once a huge growth driver.
Mr. Narasimhan said in a statement Wednesday it was "an exciting
time for the business" and that he would "continue to transform"
Reckitt.
Analysts said his appointment reduces the likelihood that
Reckitt would spin off its home-and-hygiene unit -- a move that has
been widely speculated about -- because it is doubtful Mr.
Narasimhan would have signed on at a company bound to shrink
significantly. Like Mr. Kapoor, the new CEO will run Reckitt's
consumer-health business.
Although Mr. Narasimhan's seven-year stint at Pepsi has focused
on food and drink, he previously co-led McKinsey & Co.'s
consumer and shopper insights business as well as the consulting
company's research on emerging-market consumers.
While at Pepsi the 52-year-old India native is credited with
having bolstered sales and profit in part by focusing more on
technology and strengthening leadership. He managed GBP14.5 billion
($18.4 billion) in revenue across 100 countries and 125,000
employees, said Reckitt.
Write to Saabira Chaudhuri at saabira.chaudhuri@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
June 13, 2019 02:47 ET (06:47 GMT)
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