March 24 (Reuters) - Dollar General has named Jerry Fleeman Jr. as its CEO, 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
Dollar
Dollar March 24, General
General 2026 named
Jerry
Fleeman Jr. as its
new CEO, replacing
company veteran Todd
Vasos, effective
January 1, 2027.
Kroger February 9, Kroger named former
2026 Walmart executive
Greg Foran as
its CEO, effective
immediately,
succeeding interim
chief Ron Sargent.
Heineken January 12, Heineken said its
2026 CEO 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 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 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
2025 Doug 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, Procter & Gamble
Gamble 2025 said CEO Jon Moeller
is stepping away
from the role, to be
succeeded by Chief
Operating Officer
Shailesh Jejurikar.
Diageo July 16, The Johnnie Walker
2025 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, The Band-Aid and
2025 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, Hindustan Unilever
Unilever 2025 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, The power tools
Black & 2025 maker appointed
Decker operations 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, Arun Koyyur and Shreya Biswas)
