CEO Shakeup: Church & Dwight, Nike, and Kind Announce New Leadership

A wave of high-profile CEO transitions is underway across the consumer goods sector, with Church & Dwight, Nike, and Kind all announcing top-level leadership changes aimed at accelerating transformation and long-term growth.

At Church & Dwight, current CEO Matthew Farrell will retire in 2025 after nearly two decades with the company. He will be succeeded by current CFO Rick Dierker, who will become CEO and join the board effective January 1, 2025.

At Nike, Heidi O’Neill — currently President of Consumer, Product & Brand — has been named President of Nike, Inc. effective July 1, 2024. Craig Williams, President of Jordan Brand, will become President of Geographies & Marketplace. Both executives will report to CEO John Donahoe, signaling a renewed focus on streamlining operations and consumer engagement.

Meanwhile, Kind Snacks has appointed Russell Stokes as CEO. A former Mars executive, Stokes steps into the role following founder Daniel Lubetzky’s move to Executive Chairman. Stokes will lead Kind’s expansion into new categories while preserving its health-forward mission and clean ingredient ethos.

corpbrief insight:

Leadership shifts don’t just change org charts — they reset trajectories. As legacy brands and disruptors alike navigate new consumer dynamics, the right CEO is becoming a catalyst for reinvention.