NEW YORK — Two new executive roles were announced by L’Oréal USA Thursday, setting the stage for increased growth for the beauty giant’s Kiehl’s Since 1851 and Shu Uemura brands.
Chris Salgardo, who for four years has been senior vice president of sales for Kiehl’s and who took on the additional role of senior vice president for Shu Uemura two and a half years ago, has been named general manager of Shu Uemura. Joining Kiehl’s from Clarins is Joyce Green as vice president of sales and education for the firm’s specialty store business.
Salgardo assumes his new role immediately, while Green joins the company April 15. Salgardo will report to Edgar Huber, president of the Luxury Products Division of L’Oréal USA, while Green will report to Philip Clough, president of Kiehl’s Since 1851.
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“It has been a privilege to work with Chris Salgardo, who has made a major contribution to growing the Kiehl’s business over the past four years,” Clough said Thursday. “We all wish Chris the very best in his new role at Shu Uemura. I know that all his friends here at Kiehl’s join me in wishing him every possible success. At the same time, we enthusiastically welcome Joyce to the Kiehl’s family, and look forward to having her work with our specialty partners to continue to build our business for the future.”
“I’ve been such a fan of Shu Uemura for such a long time,” Salgardo told WWD Thursday. “It is an honor to be steering this brand going forward. It is in its infancy here in the U.S. and I am very excited about its potential.”
Salgardo added that he has just hired two new executives for the Shu Uemura brand: Elizabeth Lamont as assistant vice president of marketing, and Simone Ciafardini as assistant vice president of education and events. Both appointments are effective immediately.
Green has more than 10 years of experience in the industry, focusing on the department and specialty store areas. Most recently, Green was vice president of sales at Clarins USA; she has also held sales positions at Bobbi Brown and Guerlain. Before joining L’Oréal USA, Salgardo held positions at Bobbi Brown and Chanel.
Both brands are poised for additional growth in the U.S. As reported, L’Oréal S.A. upped its stake in Shu Uemura last fall, from the 35 percent it had acquired in 2000 to its current 52.9 percent late last November, and has since that time turned its attention toward ratcheting up the brand’s sales globally. In the U.S., Shu Uemura will roll out in Neiman Marcus’ Beverly Hills door this month; the retailer is also unveiling the brand’s new assisted open-sell counter design, intended to resemble a backstage environment, on Sunday in that door. Shu Uemura will roll out to Neiman Marcus’ Houston store in June, as well as an additional five doors to be added by yearend 2004. It is already carried in six Barneys New York stores, Bergdorf Goodman, Takashimaya, Nordstrom and Shu Uemura’s two freestanding U.S. boutiques in New York’s SoHo and on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles.
Kiehl’s, which L’Oréal USA acquired in 2000 for an estimated $150 million to $180 million, continues strong growth in the U.S. and abroad. As reported, the brand opened a store in Hong Kong in August, as well as at Harvey Nichols in Manchester, England, the same month. A Paris freestanding store is on the agenda, and the brand is also available at Colette and Le Bon Marche in Paris. Under L’Oréal’s leadership, the brand had earlier expanded into London’s Covent Garden, Munich’s Ludwig-Beck and Milan’s Profumo. In the U.S., Kiehl’s is currently in 150 doors, including nine of its own flagships.
— Julie Naughton