Reckitt Benckiser announces Mary Harris, Pamela Kirby and Chris Sinclair as Independent Non-Executive Directors

– UK – Reckitt Benckiser Group plc (RB) today announces the following appointments to the Board as independent Non-Executive Directors, effective 10 February 2015:

About Mary Harris

Mary has been Non-Executive Director at J Sainsbury plc since 2007, and currently chairs the Remuneration Committee. She is also a member of the Supervisory Boards of Unibail-Rodamco SE, TNT Express NV and Scotch and Soda NV. In 2014, she was appointed a Non-Executive Director at ITV plc. Until 2011, Mary was also a member of the Advisory Board of Irdeto BV.

Mary has previously worked as a Partner at McKinsey & Company with a particular focus on consumer and retail businesses in China, South East Asia, and Europe. Mary will bring to the Board a top-level strategic outlook, with international and consumer focus. 

She is also a graduate of the University of Oxford (MA Politics, Philosophy and Economics) and from Harvard Business School, where she graduated with an MBA.

About Dr. Pamela Kirby

Pam is Chairman of Scynexis, Inc., and also serves as a Non-Executive Director on the Boards of DCC plc, Victrex plc and Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC. Until 2014, Pam had long-standing Non-Executive Director appointments at Informa plc and at Smith & Nephew plc and was also a Non-Executive Director of Novo Nordisk from 2008 – 2011. She has also previously served as a member of the Advisory Board of law firm Simmonds and Simmonds.

During her executive career she held the position of Chief Executive Officer of Quintiles Transnational Corporation. Additionally, she has held senior positions at AstraZeneca PLC and Hoffman-La Roche. 

Pam has a BSc in Pharmacology and a Ph.D. in Clinical Pharmacology from the University of London. Her exceptional understanding of both commerce and healthcare make her a valuable addition to our Board. 

About Christopher A. Sinclair

Chris is currently the Independent Lead Director and Chairman of the Audit and Executive Committees of Mattel, Inc, where he has served on the Board since 1996. 

Chris has also served as Executive Chairman of Scandent Holdings, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cambridge Solutions Ltd, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Caribiner International, and President and Chief Executive Officer at Quality Foods Centers, Inc. Earlier in his career, Chris held various senior management positions with PepsiCo, including Chairman and CEO of Pepsi Cola Co., and Chairman of PepsiCo International Foods and Beverages, which gave him the platform to showcase his strong global branding skills.

Chris has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Kansas and an MBA from the Tuck School at Dartmouth College.

Adrian Bellamy, Chairman of RB, commented: “We are delighted that Mary, Pam and Chris have all agreed to join the RB Board. Their high intellectual and strategic capabilities, along with their proven leadership and commercial experience across a host of markets, will make them fantastic additions to the RB Board and will help us deliver our strategy and meet the challenges and opportunities that 2015 and beyond will bring.”

About RB:

RB* is the world’s leading consumer health and hygiene company. The company has operations in over 60 countries, with headquarters in the UK, Singapore, Dubai and Amsterdam, and sales in almost 200 countries. The company employs approximately 37,000 people worldwide.

With a purpose of delivering innovative solutions for healthier lives and happier homes, RB is in the top 20 of companies listed on the London Stock Exchange. Today it is the global No 1or No 2 in the majority of its fast-growing categories, driven by an exceptional rate of innovation. Its health, hygiene and home portfolio is led by 19 global Powerbrands of  Nurofen, Strepsils Gaviscon, Mucinex, Durex, Scholl, Clearasil, Lysol, Dettol, Veet, Harpic, Bang, Mortein, Finish, Vanish, Calgon, Air Wick, Woolite and French’s.  At the start of 2014 RB had 43% of its core revenues coming from its 2 emerging market Areas and 57% from its developed market Area; 72% of core revenues came from the health and hygiene categories of the portfolio.

Fuelled by a new breed of talent who blend intellectual curiosity with commitment to the highest quality standards, RB is set to redefine the world of consumer health and hygiene.  RB people and its culture are at the heart of the company’s success. They have an intense drive for achievement and a desire to outperform wherever they focus, including in sustainability where the company is targeting a 1/3 reduction in water impact, 1/3 reduction in carbon and to have 1/3 of its net revenue coming from more sustainable products by 2020. It is also the Save the Childrencharity’s largest FMCG global partner, with a new partnership vision to radically reduce the world’s second biggest killer of under-fives, diarrhoea.  Overall RB wants to reach 200 million people to improve their health and hygiene behaviour.

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