Clorox CEO steps down

By Benjamin SnyderManaging Editor
Benjamin SnyderManaging Editor

Benjamin Snyder is Fortune's managing editor, leading operations for the newsroom.

Prior to rejoining Fortune, he was a managing editor at Business Insider and has worked as an editor for Bloomberg, LinkedIn and CNBC, covering leadership stories, sports business, careers and business news. He started his career as a breaking news reporter at Fortune in 2014.

Bottles of Clorox bleach are displayed for sale on the shelves of a Wal-Mart store in Rogers
Bottles of Clorox bleach are displayed for sale on the shelves of a Wal-Mart store in Rogers, Arkansas June 4, 2009. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi (UNITED STATES BUSINESS) - RTR24AJU
Photograph by Jessica Rinaldi — Reuters

Clorox, the cleaning products maker, said Thursday that CEO Don Knauss is stepping down.

Knauss, 63, has held the position since 2006 and will remain with the company as chairman.

Benno Dorer, who has served as the company’s executive vice president and chief operating officer of cleaning, international and corporate strategy, will take over.

“Don has done a tremendous job leading the company through its Centennial Strategy and establishing the company’s 2020 Strategy,” said Robert W. Matschullat, who will continue as lead director of the board, in a statement. “I’m pleased that the board and executive management team’s dedication to succession planning allows us to appoint such a strong and capable leader as Benno Dorer to the CEO role and that it will enable a smooth transition.”

Dorer, 50, began working for the Oakland, Calif. based Clorox in 2005.