Kimberly-Clark President, COO Russ Torres to Step Down Ahead of Kenvue Acquisition

08:09 AM EDT, 10/01/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Kimberly-Clark (KMB) said Thursday that President and Chief Operating Officer Russ Torres will leave the company in November to assume an external chief executive role. The company also named Carlos De Jesus to lead its North America segment, succeeding John Carmichael, who is expected to leave Kimberly-Clark shortly after the Kenvue acquisition closes, and tapped Leonardo Curado to lead its Europe, Middle East and Africa unit effective Jan. 1, 2027. The appointments of De Jesus and Curado are planned for the combined company following Kimberly-Clark's completion of its acquisition of consumer health company Kenvue, where the two currently work. The acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Carlton Lawson, Kenvue's group president, Europe, Middle East, and Africa, will step down at the end of the year as part of a planned transition, Kimberly-Clark said.