Kao Brands gets name change

CINCINNATI — The maker of such brands as John Frieda and Jergens is getting a name makeover.

Kao Brands said it will be called Kao USA, effective Jan. 1, 2012, to reflect its repositioning effort by parent company Kao Corp. 

In line with the name change, Kao's beauty care subsidiaries in North America and Europe will operate as unified organizations in the major countries in which they operate.

"The alignment with Kao's beauty care business will provide us with an opportunity to better harness Kao's global scale and resources for the benefit of consumers and customers in the North American and European markets," Kao Brands president and CEO Bill Gentner said. "It will also provide more career opportunities for people both locally and internationally."