Helene F. Rutledge has been hired as the chief innovation officer at New Avon LLC. Her position is new to the company.
As chief innovation officer, Rutledge will oversee innovation strategy and new product development, working closely with the Avon Products Inc. research and development team on new products, according to a statement issued today by New Avon. She will report directly to Scott White, chief executive officer of New Avon LLC.
Rutledge was previously the vice president of research and development at Nature’s Bounty Inc. She has held positions at GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, AeroDesigns, Pfizer, GoSmile and Warner-Lambert, where she led development of the Listerine PocketPaks.
In March, WWD reported that Avon Products Inc. officially separated its North American business after entering a strategic partnership with private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management LP. Cerberus owns a majority stake in the new business, New Avon LLC, which formed after the deal closed.