Revlon Names Perelman First Female CEO
Revlon, Inc. chief operating officer Debra Perelman has been named president and chief executive officer. She is the company’s first female CEO.
During her career with Revlon, Perelman has served in operational and leadership roles across all facets of the business, including finance, distribution and sales operations, international and marketing. As both an executive and a board member, she has overseen corporate strategy and led Revlon’s ongoing digital transformation.
As part of that transformation, she has formed a data and analytics group, established infrastructure, and deployed the resources necessary to create a leading-edge e-commerce business, the company said. She also launched a partnership with the MIT Media Lab to explore new ways to disrupt the industry.
“Revlon has been a central part of my personal and professional life for more than 20 years. I love Revlon not only as a company, but as a culture of employees and executives who are committed to delivering women and men the best products in our industry,” said Perelman.
“Beauty has emerged as one of today’s most dynamic and fastest-growing industries and I look forward to working with Revlon’s world-class team to amplify our strategy and accelerate growth," she said. "I am committed to driving the company to compete and thrive in today’s dynamic environment and encouraging our talented team’s entrepreneurial spirit, agility and bold creativity.”
Perelman will focus on enhancing Revlon’s consumer- and customer-focused approach, where personalization, inclusion, usability and passion for beauty are cornerstones. She will be responsible for driving Revlon’s efforts to further innovate through technology, enhance its iconic brand portfolio and invest in e-commerce as a growth driver. Known for her collaborative approach, she has been instrumental in helping assemble Revlon’s leadership team, many of whom joined recently to take part in the company’s transformation.
“Revlon is a brand of firsts — the first to match lips and finger tips, the first to be inclusive, the first to develop color stay technology and the first brand to embody women empowerment in the beauty industry,” said chairman Ronald Perelman (Debra's father). “Debbie’s global perspective, financial acumen and holistic approach to brands, consumers and technology will help Revlon reclaim its leadership position.
Paul Meister, who's been overseeing the company's day-to-day operations since previous CEO Fabian Garcia left in January to "pursue other opportunities," will return to his role as executive vice chairman of the board.
Perelman holds an MBA in finance and accounting from Columbia Business School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Princeton University. She is co-founder and vice chairman of the Child Mind Institute, serves as a member of the board of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and is a member of the President’s Advisory Council at Princeton University.