Herbalife recently announced a planned change to its executive leadership team. CFO John DeSimone will retire from his position at the end of 2026. This decision concludes nearly two decades of service to the company during which he held various senior roles including President and Chief Strategic Officer.
Scott Schaefer will step into the CFO role starting January 1, 2027. Schaefer currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Finance and Transformation. His previous career includes 16 years at Zappos, where he progressed through multiple finance and operations roles before serving as the retailer's CEO. His background in digital growth and financial strategy is central to the company's current planning.
Leadership at Herbalife noted that this transition follows recent efforts to strengthen the company’s balance sheet and establish a long-term foundation for success. CEO Stephan Gratziani stated that the incoming CFO has the necessary financial and digital expertise to support the organization's next phase of growth. The transition plan intends to maintain continuity as the business shifts focus toward its future strategy.
DeSimone indicated that he believes the end of 2026 is the right time to step away, given that his primary goals of stabilizing the financial foundation are moving forward. The company expects the handoff to occur over the coming months to ensure stability for its independent distributors and shareholders.