# Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc Appointment of Laxman Narasimhan as CEO

- Link: https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/reckitt-benckiser-group-plc-appointment-of-laxman-narasimhan-as-ceo/412784752
- Published: 2019-06-12T07:22:25+01:00
- Author: Amilia Stone

**Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc **(LON:RB) today announced the appointment of Laxman
Narasimhan as Chief Executive Officer to succeed Rakesh Kapoor. He will join the
Company as CEO-designate and be appointed to the Board as an Executive Director 
effective 16 July 2019.  He will become Group CEO with effect from 1 September 2019.

Laxman joins RB from PepsiCo where he is currently the Global Chief Commercial Officer
responsible for PepsiCo’s integrated long-term growth strategy. He has been a member
of the PepsiCo executive committee for the last four years reporting to the Chairman
and Chief Executive.  He leads Strategy, Global Category Groups, Global R&D and 
is implementing an advanced digital capability across the PepsiCo business.

Laxman will serve as Group Chief Executive Officer at RB, while also directly leading
the Health Business Unit.

> **Chris Sinclair, Chairman of the Board, commented**:
> “The Board is delighted to have appointed Laxman as our new Chief Executive Officer
> after a thorough and rigorous global selection process from a strong bench of 
> internal and external candidates.
> The Board prioritised four main criteria in its selection process:
> –      Demonstrated operational leadership at scale and cultural fit
> –      Strong consumer orientation and relevant experience in our categories
> –      Strategic capability to lead the business into the next decade under RB2.0
> –      Commitment to our purpose and corporate responsibility
> Laxman is an outstanding leader who brings wide experience across the consumer
> goods sector, both operationally at scale, and from his time at McKinsey. He has
> led complex operational businesses and inspired teams across developed and emerging
> markets to achieve market-leading performance.
> Laxman has exceptional strategic capabilities and consumer insight with a proven
> track record in developing purpose-led brands and driving consumer centric and
> digital innovation. This, combined with his excellent people engagement and leadership
> skills, gives the Board confidence that he will continue to evolve the strong 
> culture of RB and deliver outperformance. 
> Laxman’s initial priorities will be to focus on delivering outperformance, especially
> in the Health business unit, and to drive RB2.0. 
> I would like to thank Rakesh for his continued leadership of the business and 
> express my gratitude for his commitment and enormous contribution to RB over more
> than three decades. Rakesh and Laxman will work together over the coming weeks
> to ensure a seamless leadership transition and handover.”

> **Laxman Narasimhan commented**:
> “I’m delighted to be joining RB as the next Chief Executive Officer at an exciting
> time for the business. It is a special company with a long history of outperformance,
> creating innovative products and iconic brands which improve the health and lives
> of people across the globe. I’m looking forward to working with an exceptional
> group of leaders over the coming years to continue to transform RB.”

_The company confirms there is no further information to be disclosed under the 
requirements of listing rule 9.6.13R in relation to Laxman’s appointment. _

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