Essity Announces Changes to Organizational Structure and Executive Management Team

To strengthen its competitiveness and increase its efficiency, Essity is has announced the following changes to its organizational structure and executive management team. The changes entail that the number of members of the executive management team is being reduced from 14 to 12.

The two units Global Hygiene Supply Tissue and Global Hygiene Supply Personal Care will be merged into one unit under the name Global Manufacturing, with responsibility for production and technology for all business units except for Medical Solutions. Donato Giorgio, president of Global Hygiene Supply Tissue, has been is appointed president of Global Manufacturing.

The unit Global Hygiene Category, with responsibility for customer and consumer brands as well as innovation, will also encompass sustainability and public affairs. The unit will be renamed Global Brand, Innovation and Sustainability. Tuomas Yrjölä, vice president baby and feminine in Global Hygiene Category, has been appointed president of the unit. Current president Georg Schmundt-Thomas has decided to leave Essity.

A new unit, Global Operational Services, has been created to further strengthen the Group’s overall work related to operational and cost efficiency. The unit will encompass sourcing, logistics, business services and digitalization. Robert Sjöström, senior vice president Group Function Strategy and Business Development, Global Business Services and IT, has been appointed president Global Operational Services.

Group Function Sustainability & Public Affairs is being integrated with Global Brand, Innovation and Sustainability, except for Compliance & Ethics, which integrates with Group Function Legal Affairs. Current senior vice president Kersti Strandqvist has been appointed to a new role as vice president, Digital Transformation Program. Group Function Strategy & Business Development is being integrated with Group Function Finance. The reorganization entails that the number of staff functions in the Group is being reduced from six to four.

Ulrika Kolsrud, president Global Hygiene Supply Personal Care, has been appointed president Health and Medical Solutions. She succeeds Margareta Lehmann who is retiring as previously announced.

"These changes are part of our efforts to improve efficiency and increase the pace of change in the company. We are now taking the next step in building a business for the future," says Magnus Groth, president and CEO of Essity.

Yrjölä will take office on November 15, 2018. All other changes will take effect on December 31, 2018.

"I would like to congratulate Ulrika, Donato, Tuomas, Kersti and Robert on their new roles. I would also like to thank Georg for his contribution to our success over the last two years and wish him all the best in the future," says Groth.

Essity is a leading global hygiene and health company dedicated to improving well-being through our products and solutions, essentials for everyday life. The name Essity stems from the words essentials and necessities. Its sustainable business model creates value for people and nature. Sales are conducted in approximately 150 countries under the leading global brands TENA and Tork, and other strong brands, such as Jobst, Leukoplast, Libero, Libresse, Lotus, Nosotras, Saba, Tempo, Vinda and Zewa. Essity has about 48,000 employees and net sales in 2017 amounted to approximately SEK 109 billion (EUR 11.3 billion). The headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and the company is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm.