Aaron Chatterley – Founder, Feelunique & indu
Career Summary
Aaron co-founded the groundbreaking Beauty retailer, Feelunique in 2005. He built the business up to a turnover of over £100m, supplying more than 900 brands to over 100 countries before selling the business to LVMH/Sephora in late 2021. He has been an active investor and advisor to numerous beauty and tech brands. He now sits on the board of Nasdaq-listed Waldencast and is now co-founding a new teen beauty brand, indu.
Skills & Strengths
Growth strategy, E-commerce, Beauty Retail, Networking, strategy, fundraising
LinkedIn profile HERE
Aimee Connolly, CEO and Founder of Sculpted By Aimmee
Career Summary
I started in beauty working as a part-time makeup artist with Urban Decay and MAC Cosmetics and then studied Business & French as a bachelor degree. I graduated from University with first-class honours in business and French and decided to go straight into launching my own brand and working for myself. I launched Sculpted by Aimee back in 2016 on my own, with my own investment and since then have grown it to a team of 90 people, we’re stocked across 500 stores, in 3 markets and have grown 100% year on year.
Skills & Strengths
Being a leader, brand / marketing, product, communication, project management, self funding, female empowerment.
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Ajay Sethi, Managing Director, Tweezerman UK Ltd (Beauty Tools and Accessories)
Career Summary
Tweezerman is a massive Global brand, sold in 67 countries and adored by celebrities from Vicki McClure to Margot Robbie and Hailey Bieber. Ajay is the managing director of Tweezerman UK, a brand he has been passionate about for many years, and since 2018, he has owned rights in the UK. Proudly based in Nottingham, the brand sells over 11,500 units daily, with an annual £8m turnover, and employs 20 staff. Ajay is passionate about his team and building strong supplier relationships; Tweezerman UK ensures that social accountability is at the heart of everything that they do, from adherence to 13 human rights principles around the globe from suppliers to supporting vocational projects and charities closer to home.
Skills & Strengths
Retail. Sales and Marketing. Social Impact. Brand Building. Growth strategy. E-commerce, Strategy
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Alexander Johnston, General Manager, Head of PR, Marketing and Brand, John Bell & Croyden
Career Summary
7 years at JB&C, previously Head of Retail for Royal Caribbean Cruises, Head of Sales for the Jockey Club. Previous to this, Alexander has held various roles in FMCG and luxury lifestyle brands.
Skills & Strengths
Brand development, PR, marketing, media relations, strategic planning, business development, management and leadership, profit planning, market insight, customer
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Alice Rafferty, Director of Luxury Beauty & Cosmetics at Boots UK
Career Summary
I have worked for 13 years at Boots, joining on the graduate scheme and working my way up to Director over that time. 12 of those years have been spent in Beauty and in a combination of Buying and Digital roles.
Skills & Strengths
My strengths primarily sit in relationship building, brand building and pushing a category to work in a different way to drive sales.
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Alexandra Douard, Vice President PUIG UK & IRELAND
Career Summary
 Alexandra Doudard is a strategic and performance-driven leader with 17 years proven track record in the Luxury Industry. Graduated with Very High Honours from HEC Business School in France, #1 Business School in Europe, as well as from ENSAT with an Engineer Degree, Alexandra is also an Oenologist. In 2008 she joined the Wines & Spirits division of LVMH for 10 years, covering different responsibilities in Sales and Marketing, across different regions: Europe, APAC, Canada. Her last role for LVMH was Marketing & Communication Director for MOET HENNESSY DIAGEO K.K. in Japan.
She then moved to Cartier as Marketing & Communication Director for South-East Asia and Oceania, based in Singapore, before joining Chanel Beauty in 2019 as Head of Marketing, Communication, e-business & CRM for APAC. In 2021, Alexandra came back to Europe to become the General Manager of the luxury skincare brand La Prairie in charge of the UK & IRELAND affiliate.
After achieving the #1 Skincare position in value market share for La Prairie UK Store Group in 2023, she decided to join PUIG early 2024 as VP UK & IRELAND. She is now managing the PUIG House of Love Brands for UK & Ireland, an exceptional portfolio of brands generating emotional engagement through great storytelling, reinforced by a powerful ecosystem of Founders across the 3 Beauty axis.
LinkedIn profile HERE
Aviva Fernandes, Director of International Marketing
Career Summary
Aviva’s career in marketing has spanned over 15 years. She has worked across all categories in brand, retail and professional in mass, premium and luxury beauty. Aviva was part of the corporate PR teams at Boots Walgreens, internationalising the brands globally, and delivered large-scale marketing campaigns for the Shiseido group in the UK.
Skills & Strengths
Three C’s -Collaboration, Creativity and Commerciality! Being a good marketeer requires a great deal of creative thinking, but being a brilliant marketeer requires creative and commercial application. Aviva’s key skills are across large-scale P&L management, strategic marketing expansion internationally, developing meaningful insights from customer data, recruiting and building agencies plus internal teams and driving big awareness and conversion campaigns.
LinkedIn profile HERE
Caroline Egerton, Executive Commercial Director: Retail and Strategic Projects
Career Summary
Chartered Accountant – trained and qualified at PWC (5 years) Various Financial roles held at The Body Shop (9 years), including UK Financial Controller, Head of International accounting and reporting, EMEA Franchise finance Director. Â Estee Lauder Companies (11 years), Commercial Finance Director, Transformation Director, Commercial Director: Retail and Strategic Projects
Skills & Strengths
Key Strengths include strong technical financial expertise, commerciality, strong people skills, highly respected leader. Clifton Strengths include: Positivity, Communication, Achiever, Analytical and Winning Others Over.
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Caroline Hirons, Founder of Skin Rocks
Career Summary
Started on the shop floor. I worked my way up to corporate senior management, but decided corp life was not for me. Started consulting in 2008, launched my blog in 2010. Launched Skin Rocks in 2022.
Skills & Strengths
Leadership, entrepreneurship, business development, strategy, marketing, P+L, revenue generation etc
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Catherine Bossom, Founder of Yellow Flamingo
Career Summary
Catherine Bossom is a highly respected and sought-after independent consultant with over 20 years of experience in the luxury beauty and retail industry. Catherine’s experience touches some of the world’s best-known luxury brands, including Harrods, Selfridges, Space NK and YSL Beauté, where she has held various commercial and merchandising roles.
Skills & Strengths
Catherine is a strategic thinker with extensive experience in sales, buying, marketing and PR with renowned brands in the luxury retail sector. Entrepreneurial and highly efficient with a proven track record of delivering strategy and business growth, she is an ambitious, passionate and energetic leader with an exceptional network of relationships throughout the beauty industry. Working independently for both brands and retailers, making impartial decisions for the benefit of the business. Strategic thinking, business development, creation of brand presentations, customer experience journeys, retailer insights, and brand development with the customer at the heart of every decision.
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Celine Basanisi Gilg, Managing Director at HEARST UK
Career Summary
Celine began her enviable career in beauty at L’Oreal, then joining The Estee Lauder Companies Inc as Marketing Director for Estee Lauder, Tom Ford Beauty and Aerin, then General Manager and finally VP General Manager, adding Frederic Male and Le Labo to her repertoire. After five years at PUIG UK and Ireland as Managing Director, Celine moved to HEARST to head up a new division as Managing Director Luxury, home and Women’s Lifestyle. Celine has been a proud CEW UK board member since 2008 and was a recipient of CEW’s Achiever Award in 2014.
.Skills & Strengths
Networking, Customer Insight, International Marketing, Brand Management and Development, Digital Marketing, Marketing Management, P+L .
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Charlotte Durant, Senior Team Lead, Amazon Beauty
Career Summary
A multi-faceted retail career with experience in FMCG retailing across Operations and Buying in the Grocery sector, more recently launching Amazon Fresh stores in the UK, before moving into the Beauty sector to help drive the dynamic Amazon Beauty offering. This role is also supplemented by managing Seasonal events for Beauty and the wider Consumables business at Amazon across Europe.
Super passionate about leading Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives and promoting an inclusive working environment. This includes roles as; Amazon GetIT programme Ambassador, working with schools to inspire young girls to consider a career in technology and GroceryAid, Diversity in Grocery Program Lead for Amazon sharing best practice on initiatives with the Grocery Industry.
Starting off the career with Aldi, where she gained experience in maximising sales, cost control, managing multi faceted teams and client management.
Passionate about both people and purpose, developed from four years in the RAF reserves where team work was an essential part of the day to day.
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Chelsey Saunders, Director of Beauty at Boots UK
Career Summary
Director of Beauty – Boots UK. (Fragrance, Skincare and Haircare). 16 year career in Boots UK working within the commercial function. Started my career within Boots as a category assistant progressing through the ranks in multiple assistant buyer, buyer, senior buyer roles and then more recently working as the commercial Director.
Skills & Strengths
Strategy & category development. Creating opportunity through business challenges, using insights and research to shape the future direction. Leadership, leading teams through change – driving pace and agility to drive differentiation
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Christine Hwang, Head of Beauty at LG
Career Summary
Christine Hwang is a highly accomplished leader in the beauty retail industry, with a distinguished career spanning over two decades. She has a proven ability to successfully launch and scale brands across top UK and EU retailers. As the co-founder of K-Beauty Wise Limited, Christine introduced groundbreaking K-beauty products to the UK/EU market and executed impactful marketing and sales initiatives. Her extensive experience also includes leadership roles in marketing, finance, and consulting with prestigious firms such as BNY Mellon and McKinsey & Company, where she advised C-suite executives and managed high-stakes accounts.
Skills & Strengths
Her deep expertise in driving brand visibility and sales growth in the beauty industry is supported by a strong background in finance and strategy consulting. Currently serving as Head of Beauty (Europe) at LG H&H, Christine leads strategic planning and product launches across multiple markets, consistently delivering business success. She excels in building and maintaining strong retail partnerships, leading high-performing cross-functional teams, and navigating the complexities of global regulatory environments.
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Claire Aggarwal, Chief Operating Officer, Renew Beauty
Career Summary
Founder of Perfect 10 – the mobile beauty company for VIPs and HNW. Grew the business from one client to 5,000. Learnt how to boot strap effectively and efficiently to promote the brand and scale quickly. Offered the best services with unrivalled consistency. Sold Perfect 10 (when it was a team of 25). Now COO of RE:NEW Beauty who distribute Bio Sculpture and Elim. 100% of product sales online (B2B). Recent interesting projects include – a pop up salon for Anya Hindmarch, Vogue 5 Days of Beauty, launch of Bio Sculpture at Gleneagles and Bamford.
Skills & Strengths
Growth, client acquisition and retention, partnerships. Creative but always remaining commercial. Strategy, business development and growth. Client acquisition and retention. Social and digital marketing, influencing, partnerships and sales. Leadership.
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Claire Horner, Group Beauty Director, Harvey Nichols
Career Summary
Director-level multi-skilled professional in the premium beauty market with experience in Sales, Buying, Marketing, Merchandising and Operations.
Knowledge of working brand-side and understanding requirements to sell into retail and knowledge of working in retail and observing how different brands operate. Experienced in understanding what makes brands stand out.
Skills & Strengths
Business development, Launch planning, Distribution recommendations, Presentation reviews, Industry contacts.
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Colette Laxton, Co-Founder, The Inkey List
Career Summary
Ex Boots buying and brand, start-up COO and start-up founder.
Consumer obsessed – all things brand, marketing and creative thinking.
Built and led a team of 140 people, CEO driving business, and led entire CMO function
Skills & Strengths
Entrepreneur, Brand Builder, Growth Strategy, E-commerce, Beauty Retail, Strategy, Leadership.
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Dianna Tieu, Managing Director UK & Ireland at L’Occitane Group
Career Summary
Dianna is the Managing Director of L’Occitane UK & Ireland and has previously led La Mer and Darphin UK & Ireland as Vice President/General Manager and Natura Bisse as General Manager for China, Hong Kong and Singapore. Dianna’s background is Marketing and in has led Marketing for Harrods Beauty, Estee Lauder and Jo Malone London Asia Pacific. She is proud to be British Born Chinese and Vietnamese and a mother of two young children. She is a CEW Board Member, a member of the British Beauty Council DE&I Committee and an Advisory Board Member of 100 Allies.
Skills & Strengths
Brand Management, Luxury Beauty, Leadership and Marketing
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Eleanor Gilmore, General Manager, Lancôme UK and Ireland
Career Summary
Eleanor has an extensive career at L’Oreal, spanning 17 years. Her current position is as General Manager for Lancôme, UK and Ireland, having previously worked in both Paris and New York for L’Oreal Paris and Maybelline. She is passionate about the beauty industry and was delighted to be appointed to CEW UK’s board in January 2024.
Skills & Strengths
Marketing strategy, digital marketing, advocacy and influence, product development, P+L, skincare and fragrance.
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Fernando Osuna Cárdenas, Marketing Director of Puig
Career Summary
Executive marketeer with a solid track record among global beauty and luxury players leading sustainable growth strategies to secure business and branding goals within different B2B/B2C/D2C models.
Skills & Strengths
Data-driven yet creative mindset, passionate about building and growing brands from consumer insights and key indicators, securing winning 360 ‘go to markets’ and developing high performing teams to secure results delivery
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Hanna Coonagh, CEO, Beauty Group London
Career Summary
An Executive Board Director with over 25 years’ experience in the Beauty and Pharmaceutical industry. Going from Assistant Account Manager to MD in 15 years. 20 years in Beauty Contract Manufacturing and R&D, working with retailers and brands in developing their products and manufacturing. After working with some of the biggest founder brands ( Beauty Pie, MZ Skin, Jo Loves, Soap and Glory and many more!) Hanna has recently moved to the branded side and is the CEO of a Beauty Group London, working with licensed fragrances and more recently investing in founder brands and bringing them to market. Recently added Self Glow by James Read to our portfolio, with more brands to come.
Skills & Strengths
An inspirational leader, with a full understanding on what it takes to run a successful beauty company. Thrives on responsibility, leads with integrity, and inspires teams to exceed targets. Results orientated, delivering top line growth, and bottom-line performance. Experienced in creating and delivering turnaround strategies. Tenacious, excellent communicator, strong presenting skills, and astute negotiator. Able to analyse situations rapidly, and take a strategic view, whilst ensuring business/customer needs are met. Great business acumen with a BCom 2:1 focused in Commerce from The University of Birmingham.
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Heidi Bannister, Founder & MD, Arthur Edward
Career Summary
Heidi Bannister is the Founder & MD of Arthur Edward, a recruitment and executive search business specialising in the Cosmetic, Perfumery and Personal Care Industries and celebrating its 20th year this year.
Skills & Strengths
Networking and influencing. Heidi is a great Listener and leader who brings out the best in others. General business, sales, NPD, supply chain, creative, and innovation.
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Julie O’Driscoll, Brand Director, Rimmel London
Career Summary
10+ years in the beauty industry working in mass beauty across skincare, suncare, haircare, colourants and makeup for brands such L’Oréal Paris & Rimmel London. Cross-functional experience across Category Management, Brand Marketing, Sales & eCommerce. Digital, Influencer Marketing & Advocacy champion.
Skills & Strengths
Functional: Marketing expertise (Campaign Management, P&L Delivery, Portfolio Management, Digital + Social expertise, Influencer Marketing, Retailer managament etc.).
Personal: Challenging status quo, change management, resilience, storytelling.
Strategic Thinking, Influencing and stakeholder Management, Leadership, Presentations, P&L management, Team leadership, Navigating corporate life + internal politics!
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Lauren Mills, Founder, Bux & Bewl Communications
Career Summary
Skills & Strengths
Communications outreach planning, founder profiling, global and local strategy planning, influencer marketing tactics, relationship building, brand building tactics, business development. Strategic thinking, business development, global communications planning, networking, relationship building, client relations, team management, budget planning .
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Marcela Selimi, Senior Buyer, John Bell & Croyden
Career Summary
Experienced senior buyer in the beauty industry, specialising in sourcing and procuring cosmetic and skincare products. Demonstrated success in developing supplier relationships, negotiating favourable terms, and ensuring product quality. Proficient in trend analysis and market research to stay abreast of industry developments.
Proven track record of driving cost efficiencies while maintaining high standards of product excellence. Adept at collaborating with internal teams to align procurement strategies with business objectives in the dynamic beauty market.
Skills & Strengths
Negotiation skills, supplier relationship management, market analysis, cost management, strategic procurement, and trend awareness.
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Margaret Mitchell, Chief Commercial Officer, Space NK
Career Summary
I started my career in strategy consulting at Boston Consulting Group for 6.5 years in the Consumer & Retail practice area. After BCG I moved into beauty retail, first at Mecca in Australia, and then Space NK for the past 8 years.
Skills & Strengths
Retail Strategy & Planning – Buying & Merchandising, Business & Customer Analysis, Strategic Planning, Financial Performance Management, Trend Watching, Brand & Product Strategy, Fundraising / Equity Story Development, Team Leadership & Coaching, Organization Development, Inventory Planning and Management; Change Management
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Mark Curry, Co Founder, The Inkey List
Career Summary
I decided at uni that I wasn’t going to follow most of my friends to the City and in that same summer I discovered Teach For America was coming to the UK. I came from a similar challenging background to a lot of the kids there and I wanted to give something back. My first proper job was as a science teacher in London. They were brilliant kids, but when I started to learn about business and brands whilst doing a course on the side I decided to get into that. I applied to a few big companies and Mars said yes. I learnt loads about how to run a business and how to treat people and then from there I moved to Boots. Around that time, I was starting to flirt with the idea of starting my own business. I’m a big believer that creativity fosters the economy, so I created one brand then another and then another until I had a multi-brand business.
Skills & Strengths
I’ve spent my business life in consumer goods across food, health and beauty on both the selling and buying side. From start up to big multinational I have had commercial experience, relationships and excellence at all levels with the breadth of skills (finance/logistics)that you need to run a person from person 1 to 150 people.
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Mary Kate Trevaskis , Co-Founder of The Tape Agency and The Tape Dispenser
Career Summary
Following a degree in Fashion Journalism and work placements in both PR and journalism I worked in both agency and in-house roles in PR before starting my own business with my business partner creating The Tape Agency, a multi-functional PR, Talent Management, Podcast, Events, Social Media Management and Talent Brokering agency.
Skills & Strengths
PR, Communications, Talent Management, Social Media landscape navigation
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Oriele Frank,Chief Product and Sustainability Officer – Co-Founder, Elemis
Career Summary
As one of the ELEMIS co-founders, Oriele’s professional marketing background and love of science, nature, different cultures, sustainability, CSR and alternative therapies has led to the development of a brand that is always one step-ahead of the industry. Oriele has fast become an industry expert in brand, new product concept, design, packaging and visual merchandising. Always pushing the brand forward and never compromising, from its incredible formulations and award-winning marketing to its luxurious Mayfair flagship, House of ELEMIS. Oriele’s pure determination and commitment to push the boundaries of the ELEMIS brand to be totally unique and innovative has been a driving force for the success of ELEMIS. Today, Oriele is on the Board of Directors at ELEMIS, working on elevating the sustainability and CSR vision for the brand globally. She has been a CEW UK board member since 2021.
Skills & Strengths
Customer Insight, Brand Management and Development, Social Media Marketing, Marketing Communications, Marketing Strategy, Sustainability
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Patricia Costapozza, Senior Brand Director Skincare, Gucci & Burberry Beauty at Coty UKI Coty
Career Summary
15 years working in local brand marketing, with experience across FMCG and Beauty. I started my career at P&G Spain in 2008, relocating to the UK within the company in 2011. In 2015 I moved from FMCG (laundry) to Beauty (Fragrances), and in 2016 I went through a merger between P&G Prestige and COTY, building resilience, adaptability, and ability to cope with change. At COTY I have continued to build my expertise in the Beauty industry, working as a Brand Director across the majority of our Luxury business, expanding my experience from Fragrance only to Luxury make-up & and skincare in 2018. I am currently the Senior Brand Director on Gucci Beauty and Burberry Beauty (Fine Fragrance, Niche Collection and Make-up), as well as being in charge of the expansion of our Skincare portfolio (Orveda, Lancaster and philosophy) in the UK and Ireland.
Skills & Strengths
I am a passionate and committed brand leader. I have a proven ability to re-design brand strategies and commercial plans by combining insightful analysis, strategic thinking and financial acumen. I am a team player who builds close working relationships, ranging from sales partnerships to collaborating with global teams. A well-honed analytical approach helps me identify unique business opportunities, which I am then able to unlock with tenacity, resilience, and strong influencing skills. And I combine that with a passion for marketing magic and brand building, to bring the spark and excitement to our plans. I am also passionate about developing and growing my team, supporting them in their career journey so they go on to achieve their ambitions.
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Persephone Walton–Clarke, Head of Comms and Strategy Lead, Capsule Communications
Career Summary
A creative thinking, dynamic PR and Comms expert with 17 years experience working within the cosmetic, skincare and haircare category. Agencies include Capsule Comms, Halpern, Ogilvy and Talk PR.
Skills & Strengths
Specialises in implementing processes and new WOW to streamline operations. New Business development and financially minded to drive ROI. Creates strategic and creative campaigns that resonate with key demographics to drive mass awareness across a variety of media outputs
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Rachel Leon Wardrop, General Manager
Career Summary
Brand and Marketing specialist with 20+ years of experience across multiple brands at The Estée Lauder Companies and LVMH
Skills & Strengths
An energetic and driven General Manager with a proven track record of maximizing growth and building brand equity in the luxury beauty industry. Motivated to drive sustainable, long term, profitable growth whilst respecting brand identity. Excels at developing omnichannel strategies rooted in customer insights and data analysis. Skilled at turning complex challenges into clear, actionable plans. Thrives in fast-paced environments with a challenger mindset and results-driven approach. An engaging and transparent communicator who leads with passion to inspire teams to achieve success.
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Ross Nutter, Managing Director, Waldencast
Career Summary
Ross has spent the last 16 years working in Beauty for P&G, Coty, and now Waldencast. He comes from a background in Finance, having recently formally moved into the Managing Director of Waldencast Brands and Ventures role. He is passionate about the industry and its power to drive positive change for consumers and for the people working in the industry. Despite working for a number of large companies, he has always focused on challenger and independent brands. He states that he feels very lucky that today he gets to work on creating, nurturing, and scaling the next generation of conscious Beauty and Wellness brands.
Skills & Strengths
Business model development, scaling operations and new brands internationally. Revenue management, P&L management, operations.
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Ruby Hammer MBE, Brand Founder and Director of Ruby Hammer Ltd
Career Summary
With over 40 years of experience in the beauty industry, I am a global makeup artist, brand founder, and beauty expert. My career has taken me across editorial and commercial shoots, haute couture catwalks, and into roles involving brand consultancy, staff training, and motivation. In 2007, I was honored with an MBE for my significant contributions to the cosmetics industry. As a trailblazer in the movement towards inclusivity, I am dedicated to highlighting and enhancing natural features, encouraging EVERYONE to embrace their unique beauty.
Committed to simplifying and enhancing beauty routines, I’ve leveraged my four decades of expertise in the industry to launch my eponymous range. Ruby Hammer Beauty empowers individuals to take control of their beauty, offering straightforward beauty advice and innovative, multipurpose products designed to celebrate and enhance natural beauty—no filters, no Photoshop, just genuine, easy-to-follow guidance. Made by an artist, designed for YOU.
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Sandra Vallow, Director of Merchandising – Beauty QVC
Career Summary
I have spent 14 years at QVC UK, the video commerce retailer, and have been Director of Merchandising – Beauty. Prior to QVC, I spent 7 years at Fenwick, latterly as a Beauty Buyer.
I started my career as a graduate trainee at Fenwick Limited, working my way through various departments before being promoted to a buyer in Ladieswear. That’s where my introduction to beauty began. One day, the MD asked if I’d like to take over Beauty. It had never been something I’d thought about, but I went for it. At 25, I found myself running the fourth-largest beauty hall in the country. It was a massive learning curve, but I absolutely loved it.
In 2009, I made a move to QVC as a Cosmetics Buyer. By October, I was promoted to Senior Buyer, and eventually worked my way up to my current position as Director of Merchandising, leading the Beauty category.
Skills & Strengths
Deliver results, strong leader, good communicator, building strategies, retail, commercial, team leadership, creative thinker.
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Sarah Brown, CEO and Founder of Pai Skincare
Career Summary
Sarah Brown, founder and CEO of Pai Skincare, is an organic skincare pioneer whose expertise in developing all-natural, efficacious products was born from her own experience living with challenging skin. Sarah developed Chronic Urticaria in her mid-twenties and started mixing her own formulations from her garage as a last-ditch solution for her hyperreactive skin.
Pai launched in 2007 at a time when the organic category was underdeveloped and clean beauty wasn’t yet a thing. Sarah was one of the early champions of certified organic, responsibly cultivated ingredients, passionately believing in their therapeutic properties when many around her didn’t. Pai continues to formulate, manufacture and distribute all products from its own custom-built facility in West London.
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Shalom Ijeoma Lloyd MBE, Founder & Serial Entrepreneur at Naturally Tiwa
Career Summary
Over 26 years experience in the pharmaceutical industry. 6 years in the beauty industry
Founder Naturally Tribal Group: (Naturally Tiwa Skincare Limited UK, Naturally Tribal Nigeria)
Co-Founder Emerging Markets Quality Trials. Honorary Professor of Professional Practice at the University of Buckingham
Department of Business and Trade Export Champion
I have had amazing mentors who have had a signification impact on my career to date. I have also mentored for over 20 years. I stumbled into the cosmetics industry by chance, which led to my starting my own brand. From concept to launch, my hands-on experience is one that I believe will bring value to this mentoring programme as well as allow me to learn and understand the industry better. My aim is to hopefully help someone avoid making the same mistakes I made, support growth and ‘out of the box’ thinking.
Skills & Strengths
Business Development, Entrepreneurship, Strategy Development, Retail, sustainability, ethical business
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Stephane Euzen, Northern Europe Regional Director, Acqua di Parma
Career Summary
With a 25 years career in luxury, Stephane has successfully driven brand desirability, omnichannel growth and profitability within a variety of LVMH Maisons ranging from Master brands, such as Dior, Moet-Hennessy, Guerlain, to niche lifestyle luxury brand Acqua di Parma.
With a focus on business leadership and an expert grasp of luxury retail, his role as Regional Director at Acqua di Parma is centred around route to market strategy, retail innovation and fostering a customer-centric ethos. Collaborative teamwork and strategic partnerships have been a cornerstone to driving brand desirability, digital transformation, and ensuring Acqua di Parma remains synonymous with excellence and innovation in Northern Europe.
Skills & Strengths
Brand Building & Elevation, Business Development, Distribution & Omnichannel strategy, Luxury Retail Strategy, Lifestyle brand marketing, Customer Experience, Building high performing teams, Driving performance and productivity.
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Stephanie Traore, Consultant Senior Leader of Health and BeautyÂ
Career Summary
Over 20 years at Selfridges, including roles across the shopfloor, buying and marketing.
Skills & Strengths
Luxury retail, brand identity, marketing strategy both on and offline, trade marketing, a wide network of contacts. Business lead generation, market trends and research, networking, public speaking and presentation skills.
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Tania Littlehales, PR Director Lightning Sharks
Career Summary
With over 25 years of PR and communications experience in retail, brand and tech, Tania is a creative, agile, and highly skilled leader who delivers impactful and innovative solutions for brands and customers. She was head of PR at M&S for over 15 years where she was responsible for leading campaigns and continues to be passionate about the retail, lifestyle, food, and beauty industries. She is currently PR Director for a specialist tech agency. Tania has been a CEW UK Board member since 2016 and is also on the Advisory Board of Their World, and is a Trustee of Graduate FashionWeek .
Skills and Strengths
Communications Strategy, Digital Media, Social Media Communications, Corporate Communications, Consumer PR. Passionate about sustainability, innovation and new beginnings.
LinkedIn Profile HERE
Vesa Kalho, Beauty Buying Manager, Fenwick
Career Summary
After twenty years at Harrods in various Retail and Buying roles within Beauty, now leading Beauty as a Buying Manager for Fenwick group with nine department stores across the UK.
Skills & Strengths
Coaching and mentoring brands to develop their retail strategy within the UK and global market and business development.
LinkedIn Profile HERE
For any questions about our mentors, please email [email protected]
