Hain Celestial appoints new CEO

The Hain Celestial Group names Wendy P. Davidson as president and CEO, effective January 1, 2023. As part of a planned transition, current CEO and president Mark L. Schiller will become a non-executive director on the board and serve as an ongoing resource to Davidson.

Davidson has also been appointed as a member of the company’s board of directors, effective January 1, 2023, increasing the size of the board to nine directors.

“On behalf of the board of directors, I would like to thank Mark for his unwavering commitment and leadership during his four-year tenure as CEO,” said Dawn Zier, board chair. “Mark has played an instrumental role in simplifying the company and instilling greater operational discipline throughout the organization, and we are foundationally stronger as a result. We look forward to his continued contributions and insights as a member of our board.”

“We are excited to welcome Wendy as our new CEO. Her global CPG experience and successful track record in driving growth, reducing complexity, and developing talent are key to accelerating the transformative work that the leadership team has undertaken to launch our Hain 3.0 strategy,” added Zier. “She is the right choice to lead Hain Celestial through its next phase of growth, and under her guidance, we look forward to the company delivering strong operating results and generating long-term shareholder value.”

Davidson is a seasoned CPG executive with deep expertise in sales and marketing. She most recently served as president of the Americas for Glanbia Performance Nutrition, where she delivered strong results in a post-pandemic recovery while integrating several acquired brands into a single operating model. Previously, Davidson served as president, Away from Home (formerly U.S. Specialty Channels) for Kellogg Company and held various executive roles at McCormick & Co. and Tyson Foods. She currently serves as a director of First Horizon Corporation. Davidson is a graduate of Luther College with a B.A. degree in political science and sociology and completed Harvard Business School’s two-year executive program.

“I am delighted and honoured by the opportunity to lead Hain Celestial at this exciting time in the company’s history,” said Davidson. “Hain’s global portfolio of organic and natural brands is authentic and beloved by consumers. The leadership team has set a strong foundation for the company’s 3.0 strategy, and I look forward to working together to execute on the company’s growth agenda and build upon this strategy.”

“It has been a privilege and an honour to lead this team. Our performance during the transformation has driven significant value creation, benefiting shareholders while also laying the foundation for long-term growth. I look forward to working closely with Wendy as we transition roles and to being a valued and trusted resource as a director,” said Schiller.