Revlon Inc. has appointed Debbie Perelman as its new chief executive officer, in move that sees the U.S. cosmetics company welcome in its first female CEO.
Perelman, who was also named president, is the daughter of Revlon board chairman Ronald Perelman and has spent more than 20 years at the company.
She replaces Paul Meister, who has been overseeing daily operations at Revlon. Meister will stay on as executive vice-chairman of the board.
Previously chief operating officer of Revlon, a role that commenced in January, Perelman has worked in a varying capacity for Revlon, across finance, distribution, sales and marketing, and as a board member, for the last two decades
The 44-year-old has also served as a board member and executive vice president of strategic and new business development at Revlon’s majority owner, MacAndrews & Forbes.
In her new role, Perelman will continue to oversee the company’s digital transformation, after successfully forming a data and analytics group developed to facilitate and boost Revlon’s e-commerce business.
She has been pivotal in the training of several hundred Revlon employees globally, as well as making key hires for content creation, search-engine optimization and search-engine marketing, plus shifting content creation in-house, and fostering a culture of innovation.
“Revlon is a brand of firsts — the first to match lips and fingertips, the first to be inclusive, the first to develop colour stay technology and the first brand to embody women empowerment in the beauty industry,” Ronald Perelman, chairman of the board and Perelman’s father, said in a statement.
“Debbie’s global perspective, financial acumen and holistic approach to brands, consumers and technology will help Revlon reclaim its leadership position. I have always trusted Debbie to bring fresh vision, innovation and success to companies, and I have no doubt she will do the same for Revlon. Debbie’s extensive experience at both MacAndrews & Forbes and Revlon, as well as her track record for innovation and breaking paradigms to compete in today’s digital and consumer-first environment, make her the ideal leader for Revlon. She is thoughtful, team-oriented and decisive, and I can think of no better way to express MacAndrews & Forbes’ support of Revlon and belief in its future than by appointing Debbie to lead the company.”
Founded in 1932 in New York, Revlon Inc. today operates brands Revlon, Elizabeth Arden, Almay and Sinful Colors.