Kimberly-Clark appoints Suzana Blades as Senior Vice President and General Counsel

USA – Kimberly-Clark Corporation has appointed Suzana Blades as Senior Vice President and General Counsel, strengthening its executive leadership team as the company prepares for a significant period of transformation and growth. 

Blades will report to Jeff Melucci, Chief Strategy, Business Development and Administrative Officer. 

She will also join Kimberly-Clark’s Executive Leadership Team.

The appointment comes as Kimberly-Clark advances its proposed acquisition of Kenvue Inc. 

Blades has been selected to join the leadership team, effective once the transaction is completed, placing her at the centre of the company’s legal and governance strategy during the planned expansion of its health and wellness business.

Kimberly-Clark Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mike Hsu described the General Counsel position as especially important because of the company’s transformational stage.

He said the role requires extensive international legal experience, strong leadership, commercial understanding, sound judgement and resilience. 

According to Hsu, Blades will play an important role in Kimberly-Clark’s ambition to create a new type of health and wellness company.

The company expects the combined business to help raise standards of care for billions of people globally, supported by its established portfolio of consumer and personal care brands.

Before her promotion, Blades served as Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, responsible for litigation, government relations, legal operations, and the Natural Solutions business. 

In that position, she managed Kimberly-Clark’s worldwide litigation and investigations, advised the company on public policy and government affairs, and led the Global Legal Organization.

She also served as General Counsel for Kimberly-Clark’s Natural Solutions business. Her responsibilities gave her experience across litigation management, regulatory and public policy issues, legal administration and business-level legal support, areas expected to be central to her new executive role.

Blades joined Kimberly-Clark after nearly 12 years at ConocoPhillips. 

She most recently served as Managing Counsel for Commercial Litigation and Arbitration, where she oversaw a global portfolio of major commercial litigation and arbitration matters.

Her work at ConocoPhillips included regulatory cases and disputes involving sovereign states, providing her with experience in complex, cross-border legal proceedings. Before joining ConocoPhillips, she worked as a Senior Negotiator at Hess Corporation and was part of the International Arbitration Group at Arnold & Porter in Washington, D.C.

Blades said her priorities would include building on Kimberly-Clark’s existing foundation, supporting its growth objectives, and helping the company lead with care, integrity, and a strong performance-oriented culture.

Blades is an alumna of Georgetown University Law Center, New York University School of Law and the State University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. She also serves on the board of the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution, commonly known as CPR.

Meanwhile, Kimberly-Clark operates in more than 175 countries and territories and owns a portfolio of widely recognised brands, including Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle, Poise, Depend, Pull-Ups, Goodnites, Intimus, Plenitud, Sweety, Softex, Viva and WypAll.

The company says its brands hold number-one or number-two market positions in approximately 70 countries. Its stated purpose is “Better Care for a Better World,” supported by sustainability efforts focused on protecting the environment, strengthening communities and maintaining long-term business resilience.

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