Consumer products group Kimberly-Clark, maker of Kleenex tissues, has named Thomas Falk as its new chief executive and said he would succeed Wayne Sanders as chairman in February.

Chairman and chief executive for the past 11 years, Sanders, said this was a “carefully planned transition” and been in the pipeline since Falk was named president and chief operating officer in 1999.

Kimberly-Clark noted that its strategic direction would continue to focus on three core businesses Â- personal care, consumer tissue, and b2b.