Irving-based consumer products giant Kimberly-Clark Corp. has promoted Russ Torres, president of North America, to president and chief operating officer, effective immediately.

The move comes a week after the company announced plans to invest over $2 billion over the next 5 years in its North America business, marking the company’s largest domestic expansion in more than 30 years. Those investments will center on two “transformative” projects: a new advanced manufacturing facility in Warren, Ohio, and an expansion of its Beech Island, South Carolina, site with a state-of-the-art automated distribution center. It also includes additional capital expenditure “linked to innovation and automation upgrades” across the company’s North America supply chain network, Kimberly-Clark said.

Torres’ expanded role

In his expanded role, Torres will be responsible for the day-to-day oversight of the company’s global business segments along with its Global Supply Chain, R&D, Global Growth, and Digital Technology Solutions organizations. He will continue reporting directly to Chairman and CEO Mike Hsu.

“Russ is a purpose-driven leader who has driven commercial transformation and outstanding results in the businesses he has led. Under his leadership, Kimberly-Clark’s North America business strengthened its growth trajectory, achieving mid-single digit compound annual growth,” Hsu said in a statement. “As we embark on the next phase of our Powering Care strategy focused on bringing our global expertise and best-in-K-C proprietary technologies to every market, I’m excited to partner with Russ as we accelerate progress on our enterprise transformation. We’re more focused than ever on sharpening operational execution to drive enhanced growth and profitability. Russ is the right leader to take on this new role.”

Stepping into Torres’ former role during search

The company said Kurt Laufer, currently president of U.S. Consumer Sales, will serve as interim president of North America while a search is underway for Torres’ permanent successor.

Torres has served as president of Kimberly-Clark’s North America business since October, responsible for the company’s personal care, family care, and professional businesses in the region.

Before that, he was group president of North America beginning in 2021, overseeing the consumer business, and served as president of Kimberly-Clark Professional from 2020 to 2021, leading global business-to-business operations.

The company noted that Torres brings more than 25 years of consumer products industry experience. Before joining the company, he held senior leadership roles at Newell Brands, Bain & Company, and Mondelez International (formerly Kraft Foods).

“There is incredible potential still to be unlocked at Kimberly-Clark, and I look forward to working with our teams around the world to continue to execute on Powering Care, build on the power of our brands across the mega categories we serve and usher in the next chapter of growth,” Torres said.

Kimberly-Clark’s products are sold in more than 175 countries and territories. Its portfolio includes brands such as Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle, Poise, Depend, Andrex, Pull-Ups, GoodNites, Intimus, Plenitud, Sweety, Softex, Viva, and WypAll, holding No. 1 or No. 2 market share positions in about 80 countries.

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