St. Louis, Missouri-based Energizer Holdings Inc. has promoted Mark LaVigne, Hannah Kim and John Drabik to new roles in the company’s leadership team, and Kelly Boss will be retiring.
LaVigne, EVP and COO, has been appointed president and COO; Kim, assistant general counsel and corporate secretary, has been appointed chief legal officer and corporate secretary reporting to the CEO; and Drabik, VP, corporate controller and treasurer, has been appointed to the role of SVP, corporate controller, in addition to being designated as chief accounting officer. Boss, the current VP and general counsel, intends to retire from the company and will serve as executive counsel until next summer as part of a planned transition.
LaVigne has served as Energizer’s EVP and COO since July 2015. Previously, he served as VP, assistant general counsel and corporate secretary from March 2010-April 2012 and then as VP, general counsel and corporate secretary until he was promoted to COO. He began his career at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP in 1998, where he was a partner from 2007 until 2010, specializing in business and transactional counseling and mergers and acquisitions. He holds a law degree from Saint Louis University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame.
Kim has served as Energizer’s assistant general counsel and corporate secretary since June 2018. Prior to joining Energizer, Kim was SVP and assistant general counsel for Bank of America from May 2016-June 2018. Previously, she served as VP, associate general counsel, deputy chief compliance officer and assistant corporate secretary for the Lowe’s Cos. Inc. from October 2008 until May 2016. She began her career as an attorney at Alston & Bird LLP and Parker Poe Adams and Bernstein LLP. Kim holds a law degree and a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.
Drabik became Energizer’s VP, corporate controller and treasurer in October 2017. In that role, he was responsible for the company’s global accounting and financial support functions, including global controllership, external reporting, tax, operations accounting and treasury. Drabik joined Energizer in December 2001 and has held several roles of increasing responsibility, including VP of corporate development from October 2013 until October 2017. In that role, he was responsible for sourcing, evaluating and recommending acquisition opportunities and providing analytical support to the company’s senior management regarding capital allocation decisions, capital structure optimization and operating model efficiencies. Drabik holds an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Missouri at Columbia.
“We are pleased to recognize Mark’s, Hannah’s and John’s leadership and vital contributions to our organization as we position Energizer for future success,” said Alan Hoskins, CEO of Energizer Holdings. “Mark has been a key player in defining and executing Energizer’s strategic initiatives, including overseeing our separation from Edgewell Personal Care in 2015 and implementing our integrated operating model to win in the categories in which we compete. Mark is a proven leader with deep knowledge of our company and industry and will serve Energizer well in his expanded role. Hannah is a recognized leader in our organization with extensive external strategic governance and legal experience and John is a valued leader in our finance and controllership organization supporting Tim Gorman, Energizer’s chief financial officer. I look forward to working with each of them in their new roles to support the board of directors and the rest of the management team to execute our strategy and capture the many opportunities we see ahead for Energizer.”
“I am honored to work even more closely with Alan to position Energizer for near- and long-term success,” said LaVigne. “Under Alan’s leadership, Energizer is transforming into a global diversified household products leader in the categories we serve, and I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to our future success as president and chief operating officer of the company. I am confident in our team, strategy and innovation behind our categories and brands, and remain committed to meeting the needs of our customers, and consumers to build a stronger company and deliver lasting shareholder value.”
Hoskins said, “Leadership development and succession planning are among my and the board’s top priorities and today’s announcement will help ensure that Energizer continues to have the talent to develop and execute our long-term strategy for future growth. I would also like to thank Kelly for her six years of service to Energizer. Her strategic counsel has served the company well and we appreciate her remaining with the company into next year to help facilitate a smooth transition.”
