Manchester-based soaps and consumer products company PZ Cussons said on Thursday that Jonathan Myers will join its board as chief executive officer on May 1.

“He joins from Avon Products Inc, a multi-level marketing company in beauty, household and personal care categories with c.$5.5 billion of annual sales, where he has been chief operating officer since 2017,” said Cussons.

“With global responsibility for supply chain, marketing, digital, research & development and IT, he was a core member of the executive team delivering a successful turnaround of the business.” 

Myers spent the first 21 years of his career at Procter & Gamble, where he worked across a range of categories and had extensive experience in Asia and South America.

Myers then moved to Kellogg where he held a number of senior leadership positions, serving as Managing Director, UK and Ireland from 2012 and then also Vice President, European Markets from 2014.     

Cussons chair Caroline Silver said: “Jonathan is an excellent appointment for the company as our new CEO.

“His wealth of experience in our product categories and of doing business in both developed and developing markets will be invaluable.

“In addition, Jonathan’s track record of successful business turnarounds will serve us well as we continue to deliver on the company’s strategy of focus, scale and accelerate.” 

Myers said: “This is an exciting time to be joining PZ Cussons and taking the business forward as its new CEO.

“It is a company with a rich heritage but with an equally bright future, driven by a portfolio of some of the world’s best-loved brands.”