Church & Dwight Co has announced the appointment of David Thomas as its Managing Director in Australia and New Zealand.
This announcement follows the retirement of Wayne McCusker ,who has held the role in Australia since 2005.
The company, with annual turnover of US$4.1bn globally, has more than 200 products available in Australia in grocery, pharmacy and convenience locations.
Notable brands include Batiste, Curash Baby Care, First Response, Femfresh, Nair, Dencorub and recently acquired Waterpik.
In Australia, the company’s products can be found in thousands of retail locations around the country including Woolworths, Coles, Priceline, Chemist Warehouse and the Shaver Shop.
“We thank Wayne for his 26 years of service and dedication to Church & Dwight in Australia and New Zealand,” commented Steve Cugine, Executive Vice President for International and Global New Products at Church & Dwight Co.
“Wayne has been a valuable leader for the business, increasing the number of brands from nine to 19, delivering consistent annual sales growth and leading a team of 46 employees. We wish Wayne well into his retirement and welcome David Thomas into the role as Managing Director.”
Mr Thomas joins the company with a broad background working in the FMCG environment, with experience gained working in the UK, Australia and New Zealand in a variety of sales, category and shopper marketing and general management roles. With more than 20 years in the industry, David has previously held roles at GSK, Mars and Nestlé.
“David will bring extensive knowledge of FMCG best practice to Church & Dwight Australia, having operated as a senior team member at some of the most globally respected companies in this space. We look forward to seeing David make his mark on the Australia and New Zealand operation of Church & Dwight,” Mr Cugine said.
According to Mr Thomas, the opportunities in the market are plentiful, including building the company’s offering in new and adjacent categories and taking its customer continuity to the next level.
“Our goal is to be regarded as the best in the business, and I’m looking forward to leading the team and the business further towards this milestone,” he said.
