Kimberly-Clark Corp., manufacturer of personal healthcare products including Kleenex and Depends, promoted CMO Tony Palmer to the position of president of global brands and innovation on Mar. 7, Kimberly-Clark spokesperson Joey Mooring confirmed to Direct Marketing News. In his expanded role, Palmer will work to bolster the company’s brands on a global scale and, driving business growth worldwide, as well as product and marketing innovation.
Palmer has served as SVP and CMO for Kimberly-Clark since 2006. He is responsible for helping the company adapt a more global approach in establishing best marketing practices, applying ideas that worked in a specific country or campaign more broadly, the company said.
While continuing these efforts, Palmer’s team will work to expand the company’s digital and mobile marketing, Mooring said.
“Digital and online, social media and e-commerce are channels that are really taking hold in the consumer goods industry, and it is an area where [Palmer’s] team will continue to drive and continue to be a priority for us,” Mooring said.
Palmer will also work on innovating new products, designs, and packaging to appeal to a broader global audience. Mooring cited Poise brand pads, which recently underwent a change in design and introduced Kirstie Alley as a spokesperson, or the “U by Kotex” product line, which was first introduced in Australia before being brought to the North American market.
“Tony’s team, in its expanded role, will be looking at, ‘what are the opportunities for our brand that make sense and meet the needs of consumer?’” Mooring said. “If it’s an idea that starts in one country but has opportunity in multiple countries, we’re going to pursue that.”
Kimberly-Clark will also focus on emerging markets such as China, Latin America, and India and the Middle East and Africa.
Before joining Kimberly-Clark, Palmer served as U.K. managing director for Kellogg Company, and served as president of the company’s natural, frozen, and warehouse club sectors. Prior to that, he served in marketing and management positions in the Minute Maid division of Coca-Cola Company USA and then as regional director for Coca-Cola Australia.
