Clorox Names George Harad Chairman

By Chelsey Dulaney 

Clorox Co. said Friday that former chief executive Donald R. Knauss will retire from his role as executive chairman on July 1, after just six months in the post.

Mr. Knauss was Clorox's chairman and chief executive from 2006 until last November, when he stepped down and took on the newly created executive chairman role. A former U.S. Marine, Mr. Knauss came to Clorox from Coca-Cola Co. In 2011, he defended the company from a hostile takeover bid by activist investor Carl Icahn.

The company on Friday appointed George Harad, a Clorox director since 2006, as independent chairman.

Benno Dorer, a former Procter Gamble executive who had overseen about half of Clorox's business as operating chief, replaced Mr. Knauss as CEO last year. Together with Mr. Knauss, Mr. Dorer worked on hashing out Clorox's new long-term plan that stretches out to 2020.

The executive changes came as Clorox, the maker of its namesake bleach, Kingsford charcoal and Hidden Valley dressing, faced a consumer-packaged goods industry grasping for growth.

The company has responded by spending more money marketing its products to try to show they are better than generics.

Earlier this month, the company reported better-than-expected fiscal third-quarter results and raised its outlook for the year ending in June as it benefited from higher prices.

Write to Chelsey Dulaney at [e-mail]

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