Bath & Body Works names former Unilever exec as CEO
Bath & Body Works has appointed a seasoned executive with 30 years-plus experience in beauty and consumer packaged goods as chief executive.
The personal care and home fragrance specialty retailer has named Gina Boswell as CEO, effective Dec.1. Boswell, who will also join the company’s board, succeeds Sarah Nash, who has served as interim CEO since May 2022 and executive chair since February. was named to the role after Andrew Meslow resigned for health reasons.
From 2011 to 2019, Boswell served in roles of increasing responsibility at Unilever. Her most recent role, from 2017 to 2019, was president, customer development for Unilever U.S.A., where she led multi-billion dollar revenue delivery across all channels, customers and categories for Unilever’s largest market. Prior to that, she led Unilever UK & Ireland, with full responsibility across all personal care, home care and food/refreshment categories.
Boswell joined Unilever through the acquisition and integration of Alberto Culver Company, where she served as president of global brands and led all brand development activities, including global marketing, R&D, consumer insights and package design.
Earlier in her career, Boswell held leadership and business development roles at Avon Products, Ford Motor Company and The Estee Lauder Companies.
“Gina is a proven leader of global businesses with decades of beauty and personal care industry experience and an impressive track record of driving profitable growth,” said Nash, who will remain executive chair through the end of January, at which time she will transition back to chair of the board. “The board is confident that her industry knowledge and collective skillset will help the company in continuing to enhance our omni approach, executing our merchandising initiatives, and accelerating growth across channels, categories and regions to ultimately drive enhanced value for shareholders.”
Bath & Body Works, along with Victoria’s Secret, was previously a part of L Brands. The two brands were separated into two independent public companies in August 2021.
Boswell joins Bath & Body Works as it is working to improve profitability. The company has eliminated about 130 roles, the majority of which were leadership positions, as part of recent efforts to simplify and realign its operating structure. These initiatives also include organizational changes, additional cost control actions, and merchandise margin improvement opportunities.
Other Appointments
In October, Bath & Body Works named Kelie Charles as VP, chief diversity officer. She joins Bath & Body Works from The Home Depot where she led the company in defining the DEI strategy, programs and initiatives for associates, communities and suppliers.
Bath & Body Works has more than 1,770 company-operated Bath & Body Works locations in the U.S. and Canada and more than 360 international franchised locations, along with an online storefront.