Laxman Narasimhan, CEO RB, Spends Inaugural Week in China

Laxman Narasimhan formally takes over as CEO of RB and chose China for his inaugural tour. Laxman was appointed CEO designate on 16th July officially taking the reins of the company on the 1st September. Choosing to start his tenure as CEO in Guangzhou, China; Laxman will be deepening his knowledge of the country and its consumers with store visits and spending time with customers, partners and colleagues. China is RB’s second largest market and one in which we are committed to enhancing the lives of our Chinese consumers through our portfolio of hygiene, home & healthcare brands. China is also strategically important market as it continues to lead the way in our ever growing e commerce activities.

Laxman added “I am excited to be at RB and to work to take the company to new heights, consistent with our legacy of creating sustainable long-term value for all our stakeholders. RB’s best days are ahead and I take on the role of CEO today with admiration and ambition, but with humility. I’m on a journey to listen and learn from all stakeholders as we craft the future journey of the company, accompanied by ongoing, open and transparent engagement.”

Laxman’s top priorities are all designed with a laser-like attention on driving shareholder returns and he will be providing a fuller outlook to investors with our full year results. His immediate focus is on ensuring sustainable outperformance, while driving RB 2.0 and building a stronger, better business. Responsibility will be top of his agenda, with nothing more important than safety, quality, compliance and doing the right thing. Other priorities include a focus on consumers and customers: the people we serve. He will be focused on sharpening execution across innovation, brand building, market place execution and operations. Finally as the CEO, he acts as the Chief People Officer dedicating his energies to the development of people and renewing our culture. Under Laxman, he and his executive team will ensure all the above is executed through purpose-driven leadership and our commitment to be a better company.

While in Guangzhou, Laxman also announced the creation of the RB/MJN China Foundation. The Foundation will build on the existing $5 million partnership with China Children & Teenager Fund called the Better Start in Life programme (2019-2022), designed to reduce malnutrition and stunting in rural communities of western China. With today’s symbolic announcement, the Foundation will double our investment to $10 million by 2025 and seek new partnerships linked to our business.