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Energizer Holdings, Inc.

BatteriesFounded 1886
Reviewed by Swet Parvadiya
Company data updated: October 2026

Leadership History

Energizer: CEO History

4 leaders · 2000 to present

Who is the CEO of Energizer?

Mark LaVigne is the CEO of Energizer, in the role since 2021. The first chief executive was J. Patrick Mulcahy, from 2000.

Current CEO
Mark LaVigne (since 2021)
First CEO
J. Patrick Mulcahy (2000)
Leaders documented
4
Founded
1886
NameRoleFromToYears in role
Mark S. LaVignePresident and Chief Executive Officer2021Present5
Alan R. HoskinsFormer Chief Executive Officer201520205
Ward M. KleinChief Executive Officer2005201510
J. Patrick MulcahyChief Executive Officer200020055
Who was CEO of Energizer before Mark S. LaVigne?
Alan R. Hoskins was CEO of Energizer from 2015 to 2020, before Mark S. LaVigne took over in 2021.

Company Overview

Energizer Holdings is one of the two largest consumer battery companies in the world alongside Duracell. Its batteries power remotes, smoke detectors, toys, key fobs, hearing aids and smart-home sensors, and its Armor All, STP and A/C Pro products sit in the car-care aisle. Based in Town and Country, Missouri, it employed about 6,050 people at September 30, 2025. The company is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri.

Energizer makes money by manufacturing and sourcing consumer batteries, lighting products and car-care chemicals and selling them wholesale to retailers such as mass merchants, club stores, grocery, drug, hardware and auto-parts chains, plus e-commerce. Batteries & Lights is the larger segment and covers alkaline, lithium, rechargeable, coin, hearing-aid and specialty cells under Energizer, Eveready, Rayovac and Varta. Auto Care sells appearance, fragrance, performance and DIY air-conditioning recharge products under Armor All, STP, A/C Pro and other brands, with demand peaking in spring and summer. Profit depends on brand pricing power, retail shelf placement, promotional spending and manufacturing cost. Since FY2025 the company has also recorded U.S. Section 45X advanced manufacturing production credits for batteries made in its U.S. plants.

Mark S. LaVigne

President and Chief Executive Officer

2021 – Present

5 years (current)

Key Decisions & Impact

As COO, LaVigne oversaw integration of the 2019 Spectrum Brands battery and auto-care businesses. As CEO he launched the Project Momentum cost program, bought VARTA AG's European consumer battery business in 2025, and set FY2026 priorities of restoring growth, rebuilding tariff-hit margins and returning to historical cash flow.

Legacy

Under LaVigne, FY2025 net earnings rose to $239.0 million and adjusted EPS to $3.52 while sales held near $3 billion.

Alan R. Hoskins

Former Chief Executive Officer

2015 – 2020

5 years

Key Decisions & Impact

Led Energizer after the 2015 Edgewell separation and agreed the acquisitions of Spectrum Brands' battery and auto-care businesses, which closed in January 2019.

Legacy

Turned Energizer from a battery and lighting company into a two-segment battery and auto-care business.

Ward M. Klein

Chief Executive Officer

2005 – 2015

10 years

Key Decisions & Impact

Klein became chief executive in 2005 and bought Playtex Products in 2007.

Legacy

He led the 2015 split that created Edgewell Personal Care and the new Energizer Holdings.

J. Patrick Mulcahy

Chief Executive Officer

2000 – 2005

5 years

Key Decisions & Impact

Mulcahy led Energizer through its 2000 spin-off from Ralston Purina.

Legacy

He bought Schick-Wilkinson Sword in 2003. Ward Klein succeeded him in 2005.

Challenges & Strategic Context

Energizer's main pressures are visible in its FY2026 results. Tariffs and commodity costs squeezed margins: adjusted gross margin in Q3 FY2026 was 39.2% versus 44.8% a year earlier, and pricing fell 1.4% as the company spent more on promotions in Batteries & Lights. Management cut full-year guidance to the low end of its ranges (adjusted EPS of $3.30 to $3.60 and adjusted EBITDA of $580 million to $610 million) and expected organic sales to fall by low single digits. The balance sheet is another constraint, with about $3.34 billion of total debt and $3.16 billion of net debt at June 30, 2026, against a market value near $1.5 billion in September 2026. Longer term, more devices ship with built-in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, private-label cells compete on price, large retailers hold strong bargaining power, and part of recent profit depends on Section 45X tax credits whose future rules are set by U.S. policy.

Energizer CEO and Leadership FAQ

Who is Mark LaVigne?

Mark S. LaVigne became President and CEO of Energizer Holdings on January 1, 2021. He previously served as Chief Operating Officer, overseeing integration of the 2019 Spectrum Brands acquisitions.

Who was Alan Hoskins?

Alan Hoskins was CEO from the 2015 Edgewell separation until the end of 2020. He led the deals to buy Spectrum Brands' battery and auto-care businesses, which closed in January 2019.

Who led Energizer before the 2015 split?

Ward Klein was CEO of the former Energizer Holdings from 2008 until the 2015 separation. His predecessor, Pat Mulcahy, oversaw the 2003 purchase of Schick.

Who is Energizer's CFO?

John Drabik serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Energizer Holdings.

How is Energizer governed?

Energizer has an independent board with Audit, Human Capital and Compensation, and Nominating and Governance committees; shareholders elect directors at the annual meeting.

What are LaVigne's priorities for fiscal 2026?

LaVigne's FY2026 priorities are restoring growth, rebuilding margins hit by tariffs and returning to Energizer's historical cash-flow profile.

Who is the CEO of Energizer?

Mark LaVigne serves as CEO. He aggressively pushed the company to consolidate the battery market, overseeing massive, highly complex acquisitions of smaller competitors (like Rayovac) to ensure Energizer controlled massive amounts of retail shelf space.

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Content is for informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Data sourced from SEC filings, annual reports, and public records. See our full disclaimer and methodology.