Kimberly-Clark has recruited Scott Usitalo, global vice-president of its family care brands and former Procter & Gamble marketer, to lead the company locally.

Usitalo (pictured) takes on the position as managing director of Kimberly-Clark Australia and New Zealand and has relocated to Sydney from the US.

Tony Palmer, president of global brands and innovation, said Usitalo had“significant impact” on the company’s household brands, particularly on the Kleenex products.

“Scott has done a great job cementing global strategies and plans in partnership with P&L Leaders from our priority markets to fuel both top-end and bottom-end growth,” Palmer said.

“His work with our regional leaders has helped inform how our global sector leadership and our organisation operates today.”

As MD Usitalo will be the head of the consumer division which incorporates household brands Huggies, Kleenex, U by Kotex and Poise among others.

He replaces Glen Watts, who has held the MD role since 2010 and has been a Kimberly-Clark employee since 1986 according to his LinkedIn profile.

Watts was brought on as MD on a two year contract to manage Kimberly-Clark as the business consolidated its North Asia and South Asia businesses into one Asia Pacific arm.

Usitalo spent more than 24 years with Procter & Gamble, 15 of those years were in brand management and global marketing roles.

He then consulted to Fortune 500 companies on innovation and brand building

A Kimberly-Clark spokesperson said Usitalo’s appointment will have no effect on the media and advertising accounts which are managed by the brand divisions.