Scotts shakes up executive team
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company is expanding responsibilities for two executive team members, as well as sharing a transition plan for its chief financial officer.
Chief Operating Officer Nate Baxter has been named president and COO with responsibilities for overseeing brands, sales, supply chain, marketing, R&D and information technology. Chris Hagedorn, division president leading wholly-owned Hawthorne Gardening Company subsidiary, has been named executive vice president and chief of staff to Chairman and CEO Jim Hagedorn with responsibilities including corporate communications and government relations, as well as oversight of the Hawthorne business. The chief of staff position is new on the executive team.
Matt Garth will depart as chief financial officer on December 31, 2024. Mark Scheiwer, who has served as VP and treasurer since December 2022, will become interim CFO and chief accounting officer on January 1, 2025. Garth, who also was chief administrative officer, will help facilitate a transition during the time leading up to January 1. Scheiwer has more than 13 years of experience in a wide range of finance leadership roles at Scotts Miracle-Gro. The company will conduct a search for a permanent CFO with the assistance of an executive search firm that is expected to consider internal and external candidates.
“We’re in the next phase of our transformation to build upon the meaningful gains we’ve made to strengthen our consumer franchise and strategically shift our Hawthorne subsidiary,” said Jim Hagedorn. “We’re poised to drive further expansion in the consumer segment while maintaining our focus on deleveraging and optimizing the balance sheet. The profitability potential of Hawthorne will continue to improve as we execute its turnaround."
“Nate and Chris are strong and trusted partners who complement one another well. Nate has established a track record of operational efficiency and discipline to capture new areas of value creation and has fostered cross-functional collaboration. Chris is a strategic thinker with proven management expertise and deep knowledge of our Company and the industries in which we compete. Together, they add to a resilient and powerful leadership team and bring extensive experience and capabilities to drive improved performance on many fronts as we advance our three-year growth plan.”
