Linda Rendle steps up to CEO at Clorox
“I love this company and our people around the world who have become like family over the past 17 years,” says Linda Rendle in her remarks to the press this week. And, “I am thrilled with this opportunity to lead The Clorox Company, building on our accomplishments and growth under Benno's strong leadership.”
Clorox is promoting leadership from within
Rendle is currently President of Clorox; and as her remarks suggest, she’s been with company for some 17 years. Since joining Clorox in January of 2013 as a Senior Sales Analyst, Rendel has held numerous leadership roles with the company across functions and across divisions. And immediately before taking on the President role earlier this year, she served stints as Executive Vice President—of Cleaning, Professional Products and Strategy; of Global Operations and Strategy, International, Better Health; and of Global Operations and Strategy, Cleaning and International.
This progression was by design: "I'm delighted that our dedication to thoughtful, long-term succession planning positioned us to appoint such a strong and capable leader as Linda Rendle to the CEO role,” says Pamela Thomas-Graham, lead independent director of the Clorox Board, in Monday’s press release announcing Rendle’s next role.
Clorox leadership change set to take place next month
Rendle steps into her CEO post on September 14, 2020. She will succeed Benn Dorer, who has been CEO at Clorox since late 2014. He will be staying with the company as the Executive Chair of the Board.
Thomas-Graham shares her thoughts on Dorer’s tenure with the company, saying, “Benno has done a tremendous job leading the company through its 2020 Strategy with significant advancements in innovation, superior consumer value, digital consumer engagement, company culture and ESG.”
“During this time,” she points out, “the company has more than doubled total shareholder return while delivering good growth – growth that is profitable, sustainable and responsible. The company is operating effectively during this pandemic, and I'm pleased that Benno will continue to provide strategic guidance as executive chair while he turns toward personal philanthropic activities.”
Linda Rendle has been instrumental in developing Clorox new growth strategy
In October 2019, Clorox announced a business strategy focused on “profitable, sustainable and responsible growth.” That initiative is known as the IGNITE Strategy, and Rendle helped make it a reality.
“Linda will be an excellent CEO, building on her track record of outstanding business results, her strong oversight of the development of the company's IGNITE Strategy and her values-led leadership,” says Thomas-Graham.
And those values—or more precisely ethics—are key here. As Laura Stein, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Affairs, stated when the IGNITE Strategy was announced last year, “Now more than ever, a broad spectrum of stakeholders, from investors to consumers, from customers to employees, are increasingly expecting companies to lead in driving positive environmental, social and ethical change, while ensuring they create and deliver value.” (When it launched, the IGNITE Strategy set financial goals of net sales growth at 2% - 4%, a 25 – 50 basis point lift in EBIT, and free cash flow of 11% - 13% of sales.)
Rendle recognizes the importance of conscious business. The incoming Clorox CEO concluded her comments to the press the week by saying, “With our IGNITE strategy, we are positioned to accelerate growth on the strength of innovation, digital transformation, and continued culture change as we become simpler, faster and bolder. And, we continue to have a significant role supporting public health, given the ongoing needs and changing behaviors of our consumers and communities. I step into this role with great optimism for the future of our company and global portfolio of trusted brands, and immense confidence in our talented and passionate people around the world.”
