How do top luxury companies select their CEOs?

In 2021, global luxury brands announced the highest number of CEO appointments—up 80% year-on-year—accounting for nearly 20% of all CEO appointments across the fashion industry. Against the backdrop of a new era, how do ambitious luxury brands select their CEOs? Historically, the luxury industry tended to favor candidates with multinational corporate experience or backgrounds in mass-market fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), seeking cross-sector talent capable of understanding both mainstream markets and the unique positioning of luxury brands—aligning with the trend toward luxury democratization. For example, Chanel—the French luxury house—had left its global CEO position vacant for nearly six years before appointing Leena Nair, formerly of the European FMCG giant Unilever. Currently, four senior executives at LVMH Group hail from major FMCG conglomerates such as Unilever and Procter & Gamble (P&G). Previously, the Gucci Group appointed Robert Polet—then President of Unilever’s frozen foods division—as its CEO.

Sam’s Club, ALDI, P&G, Nestlé, Unilever, Walmart, Yonghui, RT-Mart, Decathlon… Top Ten Executive Leadership Changes in the Retail Industry in 2025 Announced

▲ Kais Marzouki, CEO of Nestlé Greater China Nestlé Greater China leadership transition: Kais Marzouki succeeds Zhang Xiqiang; following regional restructuring, the new strategy focuses on "consumer demand-driven growth." On April 25, 2025, Nestlé announced the appointment of Kais Marzouki as Head of the Greater China Market, effective July 1, 2025. Zhang Xiqiang, current Chairman and CEO of Nestlé Greater China, will step down on the same day and serve as a Strategic Advisor to the company for 18 months. Marzouki is a long-standing Nestlé veteran, having joined the company in 1995. He holds a Master’s degree in Management from the European Institute of Business Administration (INSEAD). Prior to this appointment, he served as Chairman and CEO of Nestlé Philippines from 2018 to 2025—nearly three decades with Nestlé. From 1995 to 2001, Marzouki worked at Nestlé’s global headquarters, building foundational management expertise. Between 2001 and 2011, he gained extensive international management experience—serving as Marketing and Sales Head for Jordan and Lebanon, holding general management roles across Southern and Eastern Africa, and working at both the Swiss headquarters and the Oceania market—thereby accumulating cross-regional operational expertise. From 2013 to 2018, he served as CEO of Nestlé’s Central and West Africa region, leading regional strategy and business expansion and successfully driving growth across multiple national markets. From 2018 to 2025, as Chairman and CEO of Nestlé Philippines, he transformed Nestlé into the undisputed market leader over seven years—achieving a market penetration rate where "nine out of ten households purchase Nestlé products." This leadership transition was directly driven by Laurent Freixe, Nestlé’s newly appointed Global CEO, who assumed office in September 2024. Immediately upon taking charge, Freixe initiated a global structural streamlining effort—consolidating five regional divisions (including Greater China) into three—to "enhance synergy and strengthen governance." As part of this realignment, Greater China was reintegrated into the newly formed Asia, Oceania & Africa (AOA) region. Marzouki’s appointment marks the implementation of this new strategic framework. 07 Unilever leadership transition ▲ Unilever CEO Fernando Fernandez Unilever’s “lightning-fast” CEO transition: Hein Schumacher departs after 20 months; internal veteran Fernando Fernandez steps up On February 25, 2025, global consumer goods giant Unilever announced a major personnel change: Hein Schumacher, the incumbent CEO who assumed office just 20 months earlier, will step down effective March 1, 2025. On the same day, current Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Fernando Fernandez will succeed him as CEO. Schumacher plans to fully exit the company by May 31, 2025. This transition occurs less than two years after Schumacher officially took the helm in July 2023—and is widely interpreted by external observers as reflecting the Board’s waning patience with the financial returns of his aggressive "Growth Action Plan." Upon assuming office, Schumacher swiftly launched a series of "streamline-and-strengthen" initiatives—including plans to cut 7,500 global jobs, spin off the ice cream business (encompassing iconic brands such as Wall’s and Magnum), and divest over 20 non-core personal care and beauty brands. Although these measures aimed to sharpen focus on high-growth categories like beauty and health, their financial impact has yet to materialize visibly.

Clorox Appoints Unilever Executive as New CEO

17 hours ago

Clorox has appointed former Unilever president Fabian Garcia as its new CEO, effective January 5, succeeding Linda Rendle who stepped down for health reasons. Garcia brings over four decades of consumer products leadership experience.

reuters

2026-10-29

Clorox Appoints Unilever Executive as New CEO

Clorox Appoints Unilever Executive as New CEO

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