Global Firms to Shift Leadership in Upcoming Strategy Reorgs
New appointments at Avery Dennison and other firms signal coming changes for partners in strategy and operations.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in People
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Helen Sheirbon is set to take over as president of the Avery Dennison Solutions Group on Nov. 3, 2026. This move follows a series of international executive leadership changes, including departures at Alexander McQueen and the JD Sports Fashion board.
Why it matters
Executive transitions at these global entities signal shifting operational priorities, as companies look to reset creative direction, refresh board oversight, and reorganize business unit management to maintain competitiveness.
Avery Dennison appoints a leader with 20 years of experience, while transitions at Södra impact an organization representing over 50,000 forest owners. These shifts involve multi-year tenures, including the seven-year board presence of Kath Smith at JD Sports.
The players
Avery Dennison
A global materials science and digital identification company providing branding and labeling solutions.
Helen Sheirbon
An executive with over 20 years of experience at HP Inc. who is transitioning to lead the Avery Dennison Solutions Group.
Södra
A Swedish forest industry group and cooperative representing more than 50,000 forest owners.
JD Sports Fashion
A multinational sports-fashion retail company with a significant international footprint.
Alexander McQueen
A luxury fashion house owned by Kering that is currently restructuring its creative leadership.
The details
Companies are retooling their management structures to address specific strategic needs, ranging from industrial focus to creative renewal. Södra has reorganized its primary business units—Södra Cell, Södra Wood, and Södra Skog—to sharpen its industrial strategy, while Alexander McQueen is pursuing new creative leadership after the exit of its director. JD Sports Fashion has simultaneously initiated an independent search to replace a long-standing board member.
Timeline
Oct. 13, 2026: Södra implemented leadership changes across its business units.
Nov. 3, 2026: Helen Sheirbon begins her role as Avery Dennison Solutions Group president.
Jan. 19, 2027: Kath Smith will step down from the JD Sports Fashion board.
Market Landscape
These appointments follow the broader 2026 corporate executive turnover cycle as firms adjust their leadership structures. The moves reflect a wider trend of companies auditing their management and creative teams to align with long-term industrial and market objectives.
Operators should monitor these leadership shifts as early indicators of potential pivots in vendor strategy, procurement focus, or brand direction. Evaluate your current partner contracts to ensure alignment with any upcoming changes in management vision or corporate priority.
The takeaway
Leadership changes often signal impending shifts in corporate strategy that can ripple through your own supply chain or retail partnerships. Keep a calendar of announced transitions to track how new leadership priorities may influence vendor terms or partnership expectations in the coming year.
What happens next
JD Sports Fashion will continue its independent search for a successor to Kath Smith ahead of her Jan. 19, 2027 departure, while Alexander McQueen is expected to announce its next creative director in the near future.
Further reading
For more on evolving leadership structures, see our People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WWD.
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