Ulta Beauty CFO departs; interim chief named

Ulta Beauty has started the search for a new finance head.

The beauty powerhouse said that CFO Paula Oyibo has left the company after nearly six years. She joined Ulta in 2019 and was named CFO in April 2024.  

Ulta has appointed insider Chris Lialios as interim chief financial officer, effective immediately. He has served as senior VP and controller of Ulta since 2018, with responsibility for financial reporting, internal controls and accounting policy. He joined the company in 1999 as assistant controller, where he led finance transformation efforts, and has held leadership positions of increasing responsibility within Ulta’s accounting and finance organization since that time.

“Chris has been a respected leader on Ulta Beauty’s finance team for more than 25 years, and we are thankful to him for stepping into this important interim role as we conduct a search for our next CFO,” said Kecia Steelman, president and CEO of Ulta who took the reins of the company at the beginning of the year. “We’re confident that his deep familiarity with our business coupled with his financial expertise and leadership style will ensure a smooth transition as we continue to execute our Ulta Beauty Unleashed plan.”