Newly acquired The Vitamin Shoppe taps its former CEO as new leader
The Vitamin Shoppe is embarking on its next chapter with a familiar face at the helm.
Private equity firms Kingswood Capital Management and Performance Investment Partners said they have completed their acquisition of The Vitamin Shoppe. As part of the deal, Sharon Leite, who previously served as CEO of the health and wellness company from 2018 to 2023, has returned as its CEO. The rest of the executive leadership team remains in place.
Leite exited The Vitamin Shoppe in January 2023 to become CEO of med-spa company Ideal Image. In June 2024, she was named CEO of Omni Retail Enterprises, whose portfolio includes Bodybuilding.com, Pier1.com and DressBarn.com. In her return to The Vitamin Shoppe, she succeeds Lee Wright as CEO.
"After an incredibly rewarding and successful four and a half years in the business, I am thrilled to return to The Vitamin Shoppe,” said Leite. “With the invaluable support of our partners at Kingswood and PIP — leaders in building brands and driving growth in omnichannel retail — we are primed for an exciting new era of expansion. I look forward to collaborating with the board, management team, vendor partners, and our dedicated health enthusiasts as we build a world-class health and wellness platform that delivers an unparalleled experience to our customers.”
[READ MORE: The Vitamin Shoppe unveils 'Hometown Stores' in-store shop concept]
Upon closing of the deal, Alex Smith and Beth Kaplan joined Leite and representatives from Kingswood and PIP on The Vitamin Shoppe's board. Smith is a Kingswood operating partner and the current executive chairman of Kingswood portfolio company, World Market. Previously, Alex served as Executive Chairman and then Chairman of The Vitamin Shoppe, served as CEO of Pier 1 Imports, and held numerous senior management positions at The TJX Companies.
Most recently, Kaplan was the president and COO of Rent The Runway. Previously, she served as president, chief merchandising and marketing officer, and director of General Nutrition Centers (“GNC”). Before joining GNC, Kaplan held numerous leadership positions within Bath & Body Works, Rite Aid and Procter & Gamble.
“We are thrilled to be able to partner with Sharon, Alex, Beth, and the entire team at The Vitamin Shoppe," said Kingswood partner Michael Niegsch and PIP partner Mark Genender. "We look forward to investing in a variety of brand-building strategies, including further supporting the health enthusiasts in running great stores, enhancing the company’s digital marketing and e-commerce capabilities, innovating the private brand portfolio, and working with existing and emerging third-party brands to be the best distribution partner in the market.”
In the U.S., The Vitamin Shoppe conducts business through over 635 company-operated retail stores under The Vitamin Shoppe and Super Supplements banners and via its website. Globally, the company serves customers in select Asia, South America, and Central America markets through local omnichannel partners.
