Kimberly-Clark, the global consumer products company, has announced Craig Slavtcheff as its new Chief Research and Development Officer, effective July 29, 2024.
Craig SlavtcheffSlavtcheff, who brings over 30 years of R&D experience in the consumer packaged goods industry, will succeed Robert Long, who is retiring after a 45-year career.
Most recently serving as Executive Vice President and Chief R&D and Innovation Officer at Campbell Soup Company, Slavtcheff has a proven track record of driving innovation with business impact. He has been named as an inventor on more than 70 U.S. and global patents across various product categories.
Mike Hsu, Chairman and CEO of Kimberly-Clark, expressed enthusiasm about Slavtcheff's appointment, highlighting his combination of scientific expertise and forward-thinking innovation. The company aims to leverage science as a competitive advantage and increase focus on category-shaping technology to improve consumers' lives.
In his new role, Slavtcheff will lead a team of scientists focused on proprietary research areas aimed at building differentiated consumer preference and brand equity. This aligns with Kimberly-Clark's strategy to further elevate its product categories by providing enhanced benefits such as improved absorbency, comfort, skin health, and sustainable solutions.
This appointment comes as Kimberly-Clark, known for brands like Huggies, Kleenex, and Kotex, seeks to build on its history of category-defining innovation. The company operates in more than 175 countries and holds leading market positions in approximately 70 countries.
