Kimberly-Clark appoints Robbert Rietbroek as Australian managing director

Kimberly-Clark has announced former marketer Robbert Rietbroek as the new vice president and managing director Australia and New Zealand.

The announcement:

Kimberly-Clark is pleased to announce Robbert Rietbroek as the new Vice President and Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand. Rietbroek has taken over from Scott Usitalo who has been promoted to run the company’s US Family Care business as President, North America Family Care (Kleenex, Scott, Viva brands). Usitalo will soon be relocating to Neenah, Wisconsin to take up the new posting.

Rietbroek joined Kimberly-Clark from Procter & Gamble (P&G) in 2012 as Vice President Global Baby & Child Care, responsible for leading brands including Huggies, Pull-Ups, Goodnites, and Drynites. Prior to joining K-C, he spent almost 16 years at P&G, working in Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Venezuela and several assignments in the United States, in roles of increasing responsibility and complexity.

In addition to global roles, Rietbroek has excelled in regional and local roles in North America, South America, Western Europe, Central/Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa. He has managed businesses in both developed and developing countries, low income markets, during hyperinflation and through social and economic instability.

Throughout his career, Rietbroek has worked across multiple categories including Fabric & Home Care, Baby & Child Care, Feminine Care, Health Care and Oral Care. He’s been recognised for exceptional brand building, achieving several awards for marketing initiatives, as well as being granted three design patents. He also has supply chain experience and a strong history of winning partnerships with large retailers across the regions.

Tony Palmer, President of Global Brands & Innovation says as Vice President Global Baby & Child Care Brands, Rietbroek’s done a great job driving global alignment and decisions around brand profiles and architecture, business strategies and innovation activities geared toward accelerating growth. ‘Robbert brings a great deal of experience leading businesses and building leading brandsin different markets all over the world,’ said Palmer.

Born in the Netherlands and a US citizen, Rietbroek earned a Masters’ Degree in Economics/Business from Maastricht University in Maastricht, The Netherlands, in 1996, and speaks five languages.

‘I’m passionate about leadership at all levels, building sustainable, winning brand franchises, and creating the right balance between global scale and competing locally,’ said Rietbroek. ‘I’m also motivated by surrounding myself with talented and diverse people so it’s really exciting to be leading this great team here in Australia and New Zealand.’

Source: Kimberly-Clark Australia media release