ATLANTA-Michael Polk will become president and CEO of Newell Rubbermaid on July 18, succeeding the retiring Mark Ketchum.
Most recently, Polk was president of global foods, home and personal care at Unilever, prior to which he served in several high-level positions in a 16-year tenure with Kraft Foods. Michael Cowhig, chairman of Newell Rubbermaid’s board of directors, cited Polk’s “proven record of growing global brands, driving change and delivering superior financial performance.”
Ketchum, who has served as president and CEO since 2006, announced his intention to retire in January. He will remain on the company’s board until its next board elections in May 2012.
Cowhig credited Ketchum for optimizing Newell Rubbermaid’s portfolio, transforming its culture, re-engineering its supply chain and implementing a global strategy “driven by consumer innovation and brand building.”