Arm & Hammer President Resigns

Church & Dwight Co., maker of Arm & Hammer products such as laundry detergent and toothpaste, on Friday reported a 9% rise in second-quarter earnings on higher sales and said president and chief operating officer Jon Finley has resigned after four months on the job. A statement from Church & Dwight did not say whether it planned to replace Mr. Finley, who was previously a senior vice president of General Mills Inc. Company officials were not immediately available to provide more detailed information.

Church & Dwight named James L. Rogula as president of its personal care business, effective Aug. 1. He was previously a group executive vice president of lawn and garden product supplier Scotts Co. and was vice president and general manager at Church & Dwight’s Arm & Hammer Division from 1982 to 1989.

Church & Dwight said its second-quarter net income rose to $13.5 million, or 33 cents per diluted share, from $12.4 million, or 31 cents a share, a year earlier. Wall Street had expected earnings of 30 cents to 31 cents a share, with an average estimate of 30 cents, according to Thomson Financial/First Call.

In May, the company purchased USA Detergents, whose Xtra laundry detergent and Nice ‘N Fluffy fabric softener helped drive second-quarter sales up 27% to $257.1 million. Also in May, the company formed ArmKel LLC with private equity group Kelso & Co. to acquire the consumer products business of Carter-Wallace Inc., which makes Arrid antiperspirant and Trojan condoms.

Mr. Rogula will be president of ArmKel Domestic as well as of Church & Dwight’s personal care business. Early in the third quarter, Church & Dwight launched the new Arm & Hammer breath-freshener line that includes toothpaste, gum and breath mints. Chief executive Robert Davies said he is confident the company will meet its financial targets for the rest of the year.