1 November 2019 - Deborah Wilkes
Herbalife Nutrition has promoted John Agwunobi to chief executive officer and John DeSimone to president with effect from 30 March 2020.
Agwunobi will replace Michael Johnson who has been chairman and interim chief executive officer since Richard Goudis resigned at the start of 2019 (click here to read the News story). Johnson will remain Herbalife’s chairman.
US-based Herbalife said Agwunobi had joined the company as chief health and nutrition officer in 2016 and gained the additional title of co-president in 2018.
Public and private sector experience
Prior to joining Herbalife, Agwunobi worked in both the public and private sectors.
In the public sector, Agwunobi was assistant secretary of health for the US Department of Health and Human Services from 2005-2007. He was responsible for disease prevention and health promotion, and oversaw a number of organisations including the Centers for Disease Control, National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug Administration, and office of the US Surgeon General.
In the private sector, he was senior vice president and president of health and wellness at retailer Walmart in the US.
DeSimone is currently Herbalife’s co-president and chief strategic officer. He was previously vice president of finance and chief financial officer of vitamins, minerals and supplements (VMS) company Rexall Sundown.
Herbalife's financial results
Herbalife reported sales of USD1.2 billion in the third quarter of 2019, representing a rise of 0.1% compared to the same period a year earlier.
Excluding China – where sales were down by around a fifth – Herbalife reported sales up by 6.1%.
Direct-selling company Herbalife sells weight-management, nutrition and personal care products in more than 90 countries through a network of independent members.