Avon Products, Inc. has appointed Kay Nemoto as senior vice president chief strategy and HR officer.  In this new role, the company says “she will lead the change management and cultural overhaul underpinning Avon’s transformation.”
 
Nemoto is described as “a seasoned turnaround specialist,” and has already been playing an integral role in Avon’s transformation while on secondment from Avon’s strategic partners Cerberus Operations & Advisory Company (COAC).  She’s been heavily involved in building the strategy and plans to “Open Up” Avon to growth. Avon says she “has knowledge of all areas of the business and a passion for the business model – particularly the power and potential of Avon’s Beauty Entrepreneurs worldwide.”
 
Her new role will be focused on enabling Avon to be simpler and leaner, to drive accountability and to accelerate execution of Avon’s turnaround through its people. She will lead the cultural change management needed to underpin Avon’s transformation, building an organization that is effective and high performing. She will join Avon’s Executive Committee and report to CEO Jan Zijderveld.
 
Zijderveld said: “I’m delighted to be securing talent of Kay’s caliber to power our transformation.  She has high personal accountability and drive, and a deep understanding of the role that culture plays in delivering our strategy to Open Up Avon. What’s more, she is obsessive about putting the needs of our millions of Beauty Entrepreneurs at the forefront of decisions and actions.  I’m excited to see what she can do in this new role as we open up Avon to future growth.”
 
As Operating Executive at COAC, Kay has successfully led teams supporting turnarounds at multiple companies, always working closely with the management and HR teams. She brings over 23 years of experience in consultancy and advisory roles including with Ernst & Young and AlixPartners.
 
 
PHOTO: Kay Nemoto


Avon was No.12 on Beauty Packaging’s Top 20 list of Global Beauty Companies. See the entire list here.