Energizer Holdings CEO Alan Hoskins has informed the company of his decision to retire, effective Jan. 1, 2021, officials said Thursday morning. The company’s board of directors has selected Mark LaVigne, president and chief operating officer of Energizer, to succeed Hoskins as its next CEO.
Hoskins will continue to serve as director and as an advisor to the company until Sept. 30, 2021. The board has plans to nominate LaVigne for election as director at the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting, officials said.
“Alan is an exceptional leader who has guided Energizer through an extraordinary transformation into a stand-alone public company and a global consumer products leader with a strong foundation for long-term success,” Pat Moore, independent chairman of the board, said in a statement. “He has had a notable nearly four-decade-long career at our company, and during his time as CEO, has led the Energizer team through two strategic acquisitions and in building enduring brands, a global infrastructure and strong supplier and customer relationships.”
Hoskins has served as CEO of Energizer since 2015 and has played a key role in Energizer’s growth and transformation, establishing the company as a standalone public company. He also oversaw two of the company’s most transformational acquisitions of Spectrum Brands’ battery and portable lighting and global auto care businesses, officials said.
The company said Hoskins’ focus on talent and culture has “instilled diversity as a key value across the organization, with almost half of the company’s critical roles now held by women and people of color.”
As a result of his leadership, the company has seen five consecutive years of organic sales growth and significant net sales and is positioned to generate long-term shareholder value in the future, officials said.
“Like many people, over the past several months, I have had the opportunity to reflect on my life, my future and what is most important to me,” Hoskins said. “After a fulfilling career at Energizer spanning nearly 40 years, including the last five as CEO, I determined in conjunction with the Board that now is the right time for Energizer to transition to new leadership. Mark’s capabilities and deep understanding of Energizer’s diverse markets, operations and colleagues make him uniquely qualified to lead Energizer into its next phase of growth.”
In retirement, Hoskins said he looks forward to spending more time with his family and pursuing philanthropic opportunities.
“I am honored to take on the role of CEO and lead Energizer and its dedicated colleagues around the world,” LaVigne said. “Despite the unprecedented challenges of this year, our long-term strategies remain intact, and we are well-positioned to strengthen our leadership across categories and generate sustainable growth.”
Energizer reported sales of $763 million for the quarter ended September 30 — compared with $719 million in the prior year period and $658 million in the quarter ended June 30.
“Throughout the pandemic, our focus has continued to be on the health and safety of our colleagues and meeting the needs of our customers and consumers,” Hoskins said. “Doing so resulted in higher costs and ultimately lower earnings. We believe that the value of our relationships with our customers far outweighs these short-term costs.”
About Energizer Holdings, Inc.
Energizer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ENR), headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, is one of the world’s largest manufacturers and distributors of primary batteries, portable lights, and auto care appearance, performance, refrigerant, and fragrance products. Our portfolio of globally recognized brands include Energizer®, Armor All®, Eveready®, Rayovac®, STP®, Varta®, A/C Pro®, Refresh Your Car! ®, California Scents®, Driven®, Bahama & Co. ®, LEXOL®, Eagle One®, Nu Finish®, Scratch Doctor®, and Tuff Stuff®. As a global branded consumer products company, Energizer’s mission is to lead the charge to deliver value to our customers and consumers better than anyone else.