Scotts Miracle-Gro has appointed current President and COO Nate Baxter as President and CEO, effective immediately, succeeding Jim Hagedorn who had held the CEO role since 2001. Baxter, who also joins the board, came to the company in April 2023 as executive vice president of technology and operations, was named COO in September 2023, and became President and COO in 2024. Hagedorn completes a nearly 40-year career with Scotts, having served as Chairman and CEO after his father Horace founded Miracle-Gro in 1951, which merged with The Scotts Company in 1995. The company also elected former Vermont governor and board member since 2017 Pete Shumlin as Chairman. Scotts reaffirmed its fiscal 2026 guidance, including U.S. consumer net sales growth in the low single digits, adjusted gross margin of at least 32%, adjusted net income from continuing operations of $4.15 to $4.35 per share, adjusted EBITDA growth in the mid single digits, and free cash flow of approximately $275 million.
Scotts Miracle-Gro CompanyCEO succession and reaffirmed guidance; leadership change is neutral, guidance unchanged.