Author name: Alice Weil

The British Franchise Association has appointed Ruth Brown, Chief Operating Officer of Home Instead, as Chair of its board. Ruth becomes only the second woman to hold the role, succeeding Paul Thompson, founder of Water Babies, and following Pam Bader OBE, former CEO of Molly Maid UK. Her appointment comes as UK franchising continues to expand, with further leadership continuity supported by Catharine Chalton of Home Instead and endorsement from BFA Chief Executive Pip Wilkins QFP

Markus Strobel, former President of Global Skin & Personal Care at Procter & Gamble, takes the helm at Coty Inc. as Executive Chairman and Interim CEO from January 2026. He succeeds Sue Nabi, who oversaw successful fragrance launches, including Burberry Goddess, and Peter Harf, retiring after three decades shaping Coty’s global presence. Strobel brings experience with SK-II, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino, and Hugo Boss to drive growth across prestige and mass beauty

BP has appointed Meg O’Neill as its next CEO, taking over from Murray Auchincloss in April 2026, with Carol Howle as interim CEO during the transition. Meg joins from Woodside Energy, bringing experience from ExxonMobil. She also chairs Australian Energy Producers and sits on the boards of the Business Council of Australia and the American Petroleum Institute. Albert Manifold, Chair, BP, welcomed the appointment

BMW AG has appointed Dr. Milan Nedeljković as Chairman of the Board of Management, effective May 2026, succeeding Oliver Zipse. Dr Nicholas Peter praised Nedeljković’s strategic foresight and leadership, while Dr. Martin Kimmich highlighted his strong rapport with employees. The transition comes as BMW continues its Neue Klasse platform rollout and advances electrification and sustainable manufacturing across its global operations