Herbert Mines Associates Assists Beauty by Imagination with CEO Search
December 13, 2023 – New York-based retail and consumer focused executive search firm Herbert Mines Associates has assisted in the recruitment of Doug Gillespie as the new CEO of Beauty by Imagination, Inc. (BBI), an ACON Investments backed haircare company. He succeeds current CEO Francesca Raminella, who joined the company in 2018. “Doug brings a wealth of relevant experience and a track record of success in consumer-driven businesses to this role,” said Suma Kulkarni, a member of BBI’s board of directors and partner at ACON Investments. “We are excited to see him leverage his expertise in leading multi-brand portfolio companies to propel BBI’s next phase of growth and innovation.”
“We also would like to thank Francesca for her many contributions over the years and we wish her all the best in the future,” said Anjali Jolly, another member of BBI’s board of directors and partner at ACON Investments.
Mr. Gillespie brings more than three decades of consumer products experience to BBI. He began his career in senior marketing roles at Fortune 500 companies including GE, Frito-Lay, and Brown-Forman, before progressing to the top leadership role at four separate middle market CPG companies. Mr. Gillespie most recently served as Aden & Anais, Inc. In this role, he was responsible for all operations of a $120 million baby products company owned by private equity firm Swander Pace Capital, consisting of two industry-leading brands, HALO and aden+anais, distributed in over 50 countries. During his career, Mr. Gillespie has served in senior-level positions with Insignia Capital Group, Harvest Hill Beverage Company, Jarden Corporation, Munchkin, Inc., Brown-Forman, Inc., and Edenet Communications.
“The BBI team has done a great job establishing an omni-channel platform of iconic hair care brands with myriad opportunities ahead,” said Mr. Gillespie. “I am eager to apply my skills and experience to continue accelerating BBI’s top and bottom-line growth.”
Related: Herbert Mines Associates Recruits CEO for Walden Local Meat Co.
Beauty by Imagination is a manufacturer of haircare products, hair tools, and accessories. Based in New York, the BBI portfolio encompasses some of the industry’s most recognizable brands and products, including Goody, Wet Brush, Bio Ionic, Ouidad, TWIST, CURLS, and Ace.
Serving the Retail and Consumer Sectors
Established in 1978, Herbert Mines is a specialist search firm focusing on the retail, fashion and apparel, beauty, consumer products and services, hospitality, leisure, restaurant, and digital/technology industries. The firm is noted for its C-suite recruiting work. Herbert Mines has had upwards of 3,600 searches during the tenure of Hal Reiter, who joined the firm in 1993 as president, and was appointed chairman and chief executive officer in 1998.
Herbert Mines Assists RugsUSA with CEO Search
Herbert Mines Associates has assisted in the recruitment of Alyssa Steele as the new CEO of RugsUSA, an E-commerce retailer and supplier of area rugs and home décor products. RugsUSA’s interim CEO Dinesh Lathi will continue with the company and return to his prior role as chairman of the board of directors. “We are thrilled to have an executive of Alyssa’s caliber join the RugsUSA team,” said Mr. Lathi. “Alyssa’s impressive track record at best-in-class companies combined with her passion for delivering for customers makes her the perfect candidate to drive growth and lead RugsUSA. I look forward to working with her as I transition back to my role as chairman of the board.”
Brenda Malloy is the firm’s president. She brings over 40 years of experience to Herbert Mines Associates. During her career, she has authored numerous articles on retail CEO succession, omnichannel leadership, in addition to being a featured speaker at the National Retail Federation’s annual convention in New York City. Working with leading retailers at the senior most–levels to assemble winning leadership teams, Ms. Malloy primarily recruits board directors, CEOs, and their direct reports for publicly traded, privately held and private equity backed companies spanning vertical specialty, lifestyle and branded retail, off-price/value, grocery, hardlines, mass, and the specialty department store sectors.
Past Search Assignment
Herbert Mines Associates recently partnered with Cooks Venture to place John Niemann as the brand’s next CEO. “We are delighted to welcome John as our new CEO,” said Matt Feldman, board member. “John is a dynamic, values-driven business leader whose background and expertise aligns precisely with Cooks Venture’s mission. He has exceptional strategic capabilities, proven operational effectiveness, and an entrepreneurial nature which is exactly what is needed for the company’s next stage of growth. The board looks forward to supporting John and the team as they continue to deliver long-term value to the business and delighting consumers with flavorful, high-quality protein.”
Mr. Niemann is an experienced business leader, entrepreneur, and regenerative agriculture farmer who previously held the position of president of Protein Ingredients & International at Cargill, one of the world’s leading food and agriculture companies.
Related: Herbert Mines Associates Places First Chief Merchandising Officer for Bloomingdale’s
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor; Lily Fauver, Senior Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
