A Personal Update from Linda Rendle and the Path Forward for Clorox
By Linda Rendle, Chair and CEO
Today, we announced that, after 23 years at Clorox and much thoughtful consideration, I have asked the Board to begin a search for our company’s next CEO. I will remain chair and CEO during the search, and I am fully committed to ensuring a smooth transition to the leader the Board appoints as my successor. This was not an easy decision. Clorox means so much to me, and serving this company, our people, our brands, our customers, our consumers, and our communities has been one of the greatest privileges of my life.
I have made this decision because of a health issue and, while this is deeply personal, I wanted to share a little more. I am grateful that I am cancer-free after having been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. But, while I am doing well, the side effects of my ongoing treatment to prevent recurrence have prompted me to think carefully about how I care for my health and family.
I want to be very clear that, while I’m making a choice for the long term, nothing changes in the short term. I remain fully committed to Clorox and to leading the company through this transition. Until a new leader is in place, my focus remains exactly where it has always been – on advancing our strategy, improving execution, and supporting our team. I believe in a bright future ahead for Clorox and have confidence in our ability to get there over time.
When I look back on my 23 years at Clorox, including the past six as CEO, I feel deep gratitude. This company has shaped me as a leader and as a person, and it has been a privilege to work alongside extraordinary teammates, help steward iconic brands, and be part of an organization with such strong values and purpose. The last six years, in particular, have tested us in profound ways: from the pandemic and supply chain disruption to inflation, changing consumer behaviors, geopolitical uncertainty, and our cyberattack. Through it all, our people have shown extraordinary resilience, commitment, and care for one another while driving meaningful transformation across the company.
I am confident Clorox is stronger today, and I’m optimistic about a future in which we continue restoring profitable growth, advancing innovation, and delivering superior experiences for our consumers, despite what will remain a very challenging environment. Most importantly, I am deeply grateful to our board of directors for their guidance and support and for our deep bench of strong leaders and teams across Clorox whose dedication, perseverance, and belief in our purpose have made that progress possible.
The decision to step away from the company and role that I love so much was incredibly difficult. But as I worked through it, I kept coming back to advice I give my team all the time: control what you can, have the courage to make the hard choices, and take care of yourself so you can take care of others. Those words have guided me in business, and now they are guiding me personally. There is so much we cannot predict or control, but we can absolutely choose how we respond. For me, that means making space to prioritize my health and family while continuing to lead with clarity, care, and purpose during this important transition.
For now, I remain focused on our business and on helping position Clorox for success. In the time ahead, I know I will have opportunities to express my gratitude to the many people who have made this company stronger, supported me along the way, and helped position Clorox so well for the future.
