For the first time since its founding in 2014, Glossier will have a new CEO. Founder and current CEO Emily Weiss will become the retailer’s Executive Chairwoman as Kyle Leahy moves into the top spot. Leahy was hired as Glossier’s Chief Commercial Officer in early 2021 following nine years at Cole Haan in a variety of leadership roles, culminating in EVP and GM, North America.
“Kyle and I met a year ago when we were looking for a Chief Commercial Officer; someone who could evolve how we meet the needs of our global audience, and satiate our brand demand,” wrote Weiss in a blog post. “From the get-go Kyle understood that Glossier is in year seven of a 100-year journey. We had long discussions about the evolution of our company strategy, anchored in our shared understanding that distribution channels change, history is cyclical, but iconic brands and products are forever.
“She brings both a deep appreciation of the power of timeless consumer brands and the proven experience of leading large, dynamic organizations through transformational moments,” Weiss added. “From building omnichannel marketplace strategy at Nike, to leading the reinvention and acceleration of Cole Haan, to driving digital innovation at American Express, Kyle has spent her career setting strategy and aligning operational execution to build enterprise value and maximize brand potential.”
In her blog post, Weiss also teased Glossier’s plan to return to NYC’s SoHo neighborhood with a brick-and-mortar store in early 2023.
