Skincare brand has a new face for global operations

NEW YORK — Ahava, a leading skincare brand, has promoted Elana Drell Szyfer, currently CEO of the company in North America, to group CEO of Ahava globally. She replaces Yacov Ellis who has resigned his position to pursue new opportunities, following a 10-year tenure as CEO.

Drell Szyfer’s appointment becomes effective Sept. 1, following a transition period with Ellis. She joined Ahava two and a half years ago. During her tenure as acting group chief operating officer and CEO of Ahava North America, she repositioned and re-launched the brand in 2011. Since the re-launch, the company has experienced double digit growth in all its key U.S. retail partners. Globally, the brand can now be found in 30 countries, in leading retailers that include Sephora in France, Coin and La Rinascente in Italy and KaDeWe in Germany.

Ahava was restructured globally in January 2013, moving all marketing activities for the brand worldwide to the U.S. under her direction, to bring marketing efforts closer to the commercial needs of key growth markets such as the U.S.

Prior to her post as CEO of Ahava North America, Drell Szyfer served as SVP of global marketing for the Estee Lauder brand, a division of The Estee Lauder Companies, Inc. There she oversaw marketing and strategy activities for its largest division and was responsible for the brand's skincare, makeup and fragrance categories and new media efforts. She also held positions at L'Oreal, Inc. for the Lancome brand, Avon Products, Inc. and Chanel Inc.

Drell Szyfer is a graduate from Columbia University and she has an MBA from New York University.