Kapoor to step in as Reckitt Benckiser CEO

SLOUGH, England — Reckitt Benckiser on Thursday announced the retirement of Bart Becht as CEO, effective Sept. 1. Becht will be succeeded by Rakesh Kapoor, a 25-year RB veteran and current EVP global category development.

Becht will serve as a part-time adviser through September 2012, the company added.

Kapoor joined RB in India in 1987 and was appointed to the executive committee in 2006 to lead the company’s global powerbrand strategies and innovations. Prior to this, Kapoor had a successful career at RB, including leading the U.K. and northern Europe business. He has extensive experience of the household, health and personal care categories, and an intimate knowledge and understanding of consumers and retailers in both developing and developed countries, RB stated.

Having led the pan-European and largest healthcare business in RB, when also leading northern Europe, Kapoor was one of the architects of the Boots Healthcare International acquisition in 2006, which transformed RB into a global consumer healthcare company. He has been equally involved in the recent SSL (Durex) and Paras India acquisitions.