ScottsMiracle-Gro
ScottsMiracle-Gro Appoints Nate Baxter President and CEO
ScottsMiracle-Gro announced a leadership change on June 29, 2026. ScottsMiracle-Gro’s Board named president and COO Nate Baxter CEO, effective immediately, succeeding Jim Hagedorn, who had been CEO since 2001.
What changed
Nate Baxter was named President and Chief Executive Officer. Jim Hagedorn, 70, who had been CEO since 2001 and chairman since 2003, is transitioning from the company and its Board of Directors, which the company said aligns with the Board’s long-term internal succession plan.
- Leader: Nate Baxter
- Role: President and Chief Executive Officer
- Effective: Effective immediately
- Announcement date: June 29, 2026
Leadership background
Baxter, 53, joined ScottsMiracle-Gro in April 2023 as executive vice president of technology and operations, became chief operating officer in September 2023, and took on the expanded role of president and COO in 2024. Before joining, he was president of TEL U.S., a Tokyo Electron Ltd. subsidiary that manufactures semiconductor and flat-panel manufacturing equipment, and worked with Intel Corporation in technology, supply chain, strategy, and management.
The mandate
Baxter said his focus is to build on the momentum of SMG 2.0 while maintaining the financial discipline that has strengthened the company’s balance sheet, converting that into durable shareholder value creation. The company described SMG 2.0 as a multi-year growth strategy centered on category growth, channel expansion, and product innovation grounded in naturals and organics.
Why this matters for GTM teams
Executive appointments can precede changes in strategy, operating cadence, hiring, partnerships, and technology priorities. The useful signal is not the title alone: teams should watch the new leader’s stated mandate, prior playbook, organizational scope, and the initiatives announced during the first two quarters.
Source and methodology
This leadership profile is based on the company’s announcement. Roles, transition timing, and biographical details are presented as announced; SalesTools Research does not infer undisclosed succession plans.
Primary source: ScottsMiracle-Gro leadership announcement.
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