Feb 9 (Reuters) - U.S. grocer Kroger named former Walmart executive Greg Foran as its CEO after a year-long search to replace Rodney McMullen, who was ousted last year, becoming the latest consumer goods company to make a change at the top as the sector navigates tariff pressures and choppy consumer spending.
Here are some of the major CEO changes among global retailers and consumer goods companies in 2025 and 2026:
Company Date of Details
Announcement
Kroger
Kroger February 9, named
2026 former
Walmart executive
Greg Foran as
its CEO, effective
immediately,
succeeding interim
chief Ron Sargent.
Heineken January 12, Heineken said its CEO
2026 Dolf van den Brink
would step down on
May 31 after nearly
six years of leading
the Dutch brewer, as
the industry battles
to get drinkers
buying more beer.
Coty December 22, Coty named Procter &
2025 Gamble veteran Markus
Strobel interim CEO
and executive
chairman, handing him
the reins as the
CoverGirl parent
battles a steep
share-price slide and
pressure on its and
mass-market business.
Kraft Heinz December 16, Kraft Heinz named
2025 industry veteran and
former Kellanova
head, Steve Cahillane
as its new CEO, ahead
of the packaged food
giant's split.
Cahillane will join
the new role on
January 1, succeeding
Carlos Abrams-Rivera,
who will serve as an
advisor until March
6.
Lululemon December 11, Lululemon Athletica
Athletica 2025 LULU.O said its CEO
Calvin McDonald will
step down in January
after about seven
years at the helm.The
company named its
finance chief Meghan
Frank and chief
commercial officer
André Maestrini as
co-interim CEOs while
it searches for its
new boss.
Altria December 11, Altria announced
2025 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
2025 Henrique 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 Corp November 24, Kohl's Corp named
2025 retail 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 September 1, Nestle dismissed its
2025 CEO, Laurent Freixe,
a year after
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
2025 longtime company
veteran Michael
Fiddelke as its CEO,
replacing retail
industry bigwig Brian
Cornell, effective
February 1, 2026.
Procter & July 28, 2025 Procter & Gamble said
Gamble CEO Jon Moeller is
stepping away from
the role, to be
succeeded by Chief
Operating Officer
Shailesh Jejurikar.
Diageo July 16, 2025 The Johnnie Walker
whisky 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, 2025 The Band-Aid and
Tylenol 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, 2025 Hindustan Unilever
Unilever named 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, 2025 The power tools maker
Black & appointed operations
Decker chief 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
2025 chief executive Hein
Schumacher, replacing
him with finance
chief Fernando
Fernandez.
(Reporting by Neil J Kanatt, Sanskriti Shekhar and Koyena Das in Bengaluru, Vera Dvorakova in Gdansk; Editing by Anil D'Silva, Alan Barona and Arun Koyyur)
