Charles Sternberg, Assistant Editor01.29.21
Benno Dorer has decided to step down from his role as executive chair of the Clorox board of directors. The company and board have accepted his resignation to step down from his role and the board, effective Feb. 15, 2021.
Consistent with the board's long-term succession planning, Matthew J. Shattock, a Clorox director since 2018 and veteran consumer packaged goods executive, has been appointed to the role of independent chair.
About Benno Dorer
Dorer, 56, was appointed executive chair of the board in September 2020, upon stepping down as chief executive officer of the company, a role he held since 2014. He served as chair of the board since 2016. As CEO, Dorer guided Clorox through its 2020 Strategy, which emphasized profitable, sustainable and responsible growth. This led to advancements in innovation, superior consumer value, digital consumer engagement, company culture and a strategic focus on ESG (environmental, social and governance). During his tenure, the company more than doubled total shareholder return.
"Benno was an outstanding CEO for Clorox and a strategic force as our chair and later, executive chair," said lead independent director Pamela Thomas-Graham. "We're grateful for his leadership and enabling such a smooth transition since Linda Rendle was promoted to CEO last September."
About Mathew J. Shattock
In addition to serving on Clorox's board, Shattock, 58, is the chairman of Domino's Pizza Group plc and a director of VF Corporation. He was the non-executive chairman of the board for Beam Suntory until December 2020, where he served as chairman and CEO, after joining the company as president and CEO in 2009.
Prior to joining Beam, he spent six years at Cadbury plc, where he led its businesses first in The Americas and then in Europe, Middle East and Africa. Prior to Cadbury, he spent 16 years at Unilever in various leadership roles, culminating in his role as chief operating officer of Unilever Best Foods North America.
"We're fortunate to have someone with the caliber of Matt's global experience at some of the world's most admired companies as our independent chair," said CEO Linda Rendle. "Since he joined the Clorox board, he has been providing valuable strategic perspective, and we look forward to working with him in his new role."
Other Members of the Board of Directors
Separately, Esther Lee, 62, executive vice president and global chief marketing officer for MetLife Inc., and a Clorox director since 2013, was named chair of the Nominating, Governance and Corporate Responsibility Committee, effective Feb. 15. Dr. Richard Carmona, 70, a Clorox director since 2007, will step down as chair of the NGCRC and remain on the board.
Additionally, after 16 years of distinguished service as a Clorox director, Pamela Thomas-Graham, 57, has decided not to stand for re-election to the board at the end of her current term, which ends in November 2021. She has served as lead independent director since 2016 and will step down from this role in connection with Shattock's appointment to independent chair.
Consistent with the board's long-term succession planning, Matthew J. Shattock, a Clorox director since 2018 and veteran consumer packaged goods executive, has been appointed to the role of independent chair.
About Benno Dorer
Dorer, 56, was appointed executive chair of the board in September 2020, upon stepping down as chief executive officer of the company, a role he held since 2014. He served as chair of the board since 2016. As CEO, Dorer guided Clorox through its 2020 Strategy, which emphasized profitable, sustainable and responsible growth. This led to advancements in innovation, superior consumer value, digital consumer engagement, company culture and a strategic focus on ESG (environmental, social and governance). During his tenure, the company more than doubled total shareholder return.
"Benno was an outstanding CEO for Clorox and a strategic force as our chair and later, executive chair," said lead independent director Pamela Thomas-Graham. "We're grateful for his leadership and enabling such a smooth transition since Linda Rendle was promoted to CEO last September."
About Mathew J. Shattock
In addition to serving on Clorox's board, Shattock, 58, is the chairman of Domino's Pizza Group plc and a director of VF Corporation. He was the non-executive chairman of the board for Beam Suntory until December 2020, where he served as chairman and CEO, after joining the company as president and CEO in 2009.
Prior to joining Beam, he spent six years at Cadbury plc, where he led its businesses first in The Americas and then in Europe, Middle East and Africa. Prior to Cadbury, he spent 16 years at Unilever in various leadership roles, culminating in his role as chief operating officer of Unilever Best Foods North America.
"We're fortunate to have someone with the caliber of Matt's global experience at some of the world's most admired companies as our independent chair," said CEO Linda Rendle. "Since he joined the Clorox board, he has been providing valuable strategic perspective, and we look forward to working with him in his new role."
Other Members of the Board of Directors
Separately, Esther Lee, 62, executive vice president and global chief marketing officer for MetLife Inc., and a Clorox director since 2013, was named chair of the Nominating, Governance and Corporate Responsibility Committee, effective Feb. 15. Dr. Richard Carmona, 70, a Clorox director since 2007, will step down as chair of the NGCRC and remain on the board.
Additionally, after 16 years of distinguished service as a Clorox director, Pamela Thomas-Graham, 57, has decided not to stand for re-election to the board at the end of her current term, which ends in November 2021. She has served as lead independent director since 2016 and will step down from this role in connection with Shattock's appointment to independent chair.
