Jesse Singh takes the helm at Fortune Brands Innovations

Jesse Singh has been appointed chief executive officer of Fortune Brands Innovations Inc. (NYSE: FBIN), the home, security and digital products company said Monday.

Fortune Brands is the parent of several core brands in the homebuilding and repair-remodel channels, including Moen, House of Rohl, Therma-Tru, Larson, Fiberon, Master Lock, Sentry Safe and Yale residential. Singh also joins the company’s board of directors, effective immediately, according to the announcement.

Singh brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across building products, consumer, technology and manufacturing. The company said he most recently served as CEO of a public building products and consumer company from 2016 to 2025, where he focused on operational discipline, margin expansion, innovation and culture change that drove profitable growth and higher EBITDA margins.

For homebuilders and building product manufacturers, the move signals that Fortune Brands’ board is prioritizing operational performance and shareholder returns at a time when new-home demand is holding up better than existing-home resales, but input costs, labor constraints and channel volatility remain key risks. FBIN’s portfolio touches plumbing, doors, decking, security and digital home products, giving the new CEO leverage across core structural and finish categories in single-family and multifamily construction.

Non-executive chair of the board Andrew Kilsby said the appointment followed a comprehensive search and cited Singh’s track record in building products and branded consumer goods. Singh said Fortune Brands’ “iconic brands” and customer relationships create “a compelling opportunity to build on the company’s foundation and deliver durable value for customers, partners and shareholders,” according to the release.

At the same time, interim CEO Dave Barry has been named executive vice president and chief operating officer. Barry, who has been leading the company during the search process, will work closely with Singh on day-to-day operations. Interim CFO Ashley George will remain in place while Fortune Brands continues its external search for a permanent chief financial officer.

The company also reiterated that it has launched a strategic review of its Fiberon composite decking and railing business. Kilsby will directly oversee Fiberon’s operations during that process. Builders and lumberyard channels will be watching that review closely, as any portfolio changes could reshape competitive dynamics in the composite decking segment, which has been pressured by slower discretionary outdoor projects and price competition but still benefits from long-run share gains versus wood.

Why it matters

FBIN is a major spec and brand decision driver for plumbers, exterior contractors and builders through Moen, Therma-Tru, Larson, Fiberon and its security lines. A CEO with a mandate around operational excellence and shareholder value typically looks closely at SKU complexity, channel mix, service levels and pricing power. That can translate into changes in product lineups, service expectations, program terms and innovation cadence for builders, distributors and pro dealers that carry these brands.

To attract Singh, Fortune Brands’ board approved inducement equity awards under NYSE Rule 303A.08, granted outside the company’s 2022 long-term incentive plan. The package includes:

• A performance-based restricted stock unit award tied to 850,000 shares of common stock, vesting 50% on the third anniversary of the grant date and 50% on the fourth anniversary, subject to stock price performance goals and continued employment.
• A service-based stock option award on 300,000 shares, vesting in three equal annual installments over the first three years, contingent on continued employment.

All shares received from these awards must be held for the duration of Singh’s employment. After he leaves the company, he must retain at least 50% of the shares for one year. The structure aligns Singh’s compensation directly with long-term share price performance and reinforces the board’s emphasis on sustained value creation over short-term moves.

For homebuilding operators, purchasing executives and product manufacturers, Singh’s arrival and the concurrent Fiberon review suggest FBIN could adjust its portfolio and capital allocation priorities over the next 12 to 24 months. That could include targeted investments in higher-margin, brand-driven segments such as water, doors and smart security, and potentially changes in its approach to lower-return or more cyclical categories.