Kimberly-Clark has appointed Suzana Blades as senior vice president and general counsel, effective September 1, 2026.
Blades will report to Jeff Melucci, Kimberly-Clark’s chief strategy, business development and administrative officer, and join the company’s Executive Leadership Team. She has also been named to the leadership team that will take effect upon completion of Kimberly-Clark’s pending acquisition of Kenvue.
Kimberly-Clark said in its second-quarter update that the Kenvue transaction remained on track to close by the end of 2026. The acquisition is intended to support the company’s expansion into a broader health and wellness business.
Blades has worked at Kimberly-Clark for nearly four years. Most recently, she served as vice president and deputy general counsel for litigation, government relations, legal operations and Natural Solutions.
In that position, she oversaw the company’s global litigation and investigations portfolio, advised on public policy and government affairs, led legal operations and served as general counsel for the Natural Solutions business.
Chairman and CEO Mike Hsu said Blades’ international legal background and familiarity with Kimberly-Clark would support the company as it manages its strategic transition and pending Kenvue acquisition.
Before joining Kimberly-Clark, Blades spent nearly 12 years at ConocoPhillips. Her most recent position there was managing counsel for commercial litigation and arbitration, with responsibility for international commercial disputes, regulatory matters and cases involving sovereign states.
Earlier in her career, she worked as a senior negotiator at Hess Corporation and was a member of Arnold & Porter’s International Arbitration Group in Washington, D.C.
Blades holds degrees from Georgetown University Law Center, New York University School of Law and the State University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. She also serves on the board of the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution.
Kimberly-Clark is a global consumer products company whose brands include Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle, Poise, Depend, Pull-Ups, Viva and WypAll. Its products are sold in more than 175 countries and territories.
