Kenvue Names Heather Howlett Interim CFO as Amit Banati Departs

Kenvue Inc. (NYSE: KVUE) has appointed Heather Howlett as interim Chief Financial Officer, effective May 12, 2026, following the planned departure of current CFO Amit Banati. Howlett, who currently serves as the company's Chief Accounting Officer, will receive a monthly stipend of $125,000 in addition to her existing compensation package during her interim tenure.

The Change

The consumer health giant announced on April 10, 2026, that Howlett, 48, will assume dual roles as both interim CFO and Chief Accounting Officer when Banati steps down on May 12. The appointment comes two months after Kenvue initially disclosed Banati's planned departure in February.

As part of the transition arrangement, Howlett will receive substantial additional compensation for her expanded responsibilities. The $125,000 monthly stipend represents $1.5 million annually on top of her current compensation package, which includes a base salary of $544,116, a target bonus of $299,264, and equity awards valued at $420,000.

The company has not announced a permanent replacement for the CFO position, suggesting an ongoing search process while Howlett maintains financial leadership continuity. During her interim term, she will serve as both the company's principal financial officer and principal accounting officer, consolidating key financial oversight roles.

Background

Howlett brings significant financial leadership experience to the interim CFO role, having served as Kenvue's Chief Accounting Officer since May 2023. Her appointment to Kenvue preceded the company's high-profile spinoff from Johnson & Johnson, where she joined in September 2022 specifically as Chief Accounting Officer Designee for what was then called the "New Consumer Health Company."

Before joining the Johnson & Johnson organization, Howlett held the Chief Accounting Officer position at Trane Technologies from March 2020 to August 2022. Her career trajectory includes progressively senior roles across multiple Fortune 500 companies, including Catalent Pharma Solutions, Honeywell, and Tyco. She began her career with more than a decade at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, establishing a strong foundation in public company accounting and financial reporting.

This extensive background in both public accounting and corporate financial leadership positions Howlett well for navigating Kenvue through this transition period. Her experience spans various industries, from pharmaceuticals to industrial manufacturing, providing broad perspective for managing the financial operations of a major consumer health company.

What It Means

The leadership transition comes at a critical juncture for Kenvue, which completed its separation from Johnson & Johnson less than three years ago. As a newly independent public company with a market presence in consumer health products, maintaining financial leadership stability is crucial for investor confidence and operational continuity.

The generous compensation arrangement for Howlett's interim role—effectively doubling her cash compensation with the monthly stipend—signals Kenvue's commitment to ensuring strong financial oversight during the transition. This level of compensation for an interim position suggests the company may be conducting a thorough external search for a permanent CFO, a process that could extend several months.

For investors, Howlett's appointment offers both continuity and fresh perspective. Her intimate knowledge of Kenvue's financial structure from her current role eliminates any learning curve, while her presence since before the spinoff ensures deep understanding of the company's separation complexities and standalone financial framework. The fact that she was specifically recruited to help establish the company's independent financial function demonstrates Johnson & Johnson's confidence in her capabilities.

The timing of Banati's departure, announced in February with a three-month transition period, appears orderly and planned rather than abrupt, suggesting no underlying operational or strategic concerns. The structured handoff and internal promotion approach typically indicates corporate stability rather than distress.

Howlett's dual role consolidation could streamline financial decision-making during the interim period, though it also concentrates significant responsibility. The company will need to ensure adequate support structures and potentially accelerate its permanent CFO search to avoid extended periods of consolidated roles.

For Kenvue's strategic direction, having a CFO with deep institutional knowledge during this transition period may help maintain momentum on existing initiatives while a permanent replacement is identified. Howlett's background across multiple industries could also bring valuable perspectives as Kenvue continues establishing its identity as an independent consumer health leader.

The company's forward-looking statements acknowledge potential risks around senior leadership changes and possible business disruptions, standard cautionary language that reflects the inherent challenges of C-suite transitions. However, the planned nature of this change and internal succession approach suggest Kenvue has prepared to minimize operational impact.