Kimberly-Clark appoints next general counsel

Kimberly-Clark Corporation’s board of directors has elected Jeffrey Melucci to become senior vice president and the firm’s next general counsel, effective September 1, 2017.

Melucci will report to chair and CEO Thomas Falk. In his new role, he will be responsible for all legal and governmental affairs for the company and will serve on the company’s executive leadership team. He will succeed Tom Mielke who is due to retire from the role after 29 years with the company and 10 years leading the legal function. Mielke will retire in early 2018 following a transition period.

Dallas-based Kimberly-Clark owns brands such as Kleenex, Scott, Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex and Depend.

Melucci joined the company in 2013, since when he has led Kimberly-Clark’s global legal operations, served as the company’s corporate secretary and been responsible for leading the international legal team, according to the firm. Before joining Kimberly-Clark, he held a series of general counsel and operational roles at General Electric.

‘We are fortunate to have someone of Jeff’s experience and talent to lead our legal function. He is a proven change-oriented leader who has demonstrated abilities across our businesses,’ Falk says in a statement. ‘Tom has been an outstanding legal professional and leader throughout his career at [Kimberly-Clark. I am grateful for his commitment to developing an excellent legal team and advocating for team member diversity, inclusion and empowerment.’

During his career with the company, Mielke has held a range of positions, including chief patent counsel and chief counsel for the company’s North Atlantic consumer business.