Vitamin Shoppe CEO resigns
Sharon Leite has left The Vitamin Shoppe.
Leite has served as CEO of the vitamin and nutritional products specialty retailer since August 2018. She announced her resignation on her LinkedIn page on January 4, writing “I turned my badge in today at The Vitamin Shoppe.” Leite gave no reason for her resignation, but said she was “excited about where I am headed next.” (Her full post is at the end of article.)
Based in Secaucus, N.J., the Vitamin Shoppe has more than 700 company-operated retail stores under The Vitamin Shoppe and Super Supplements banners. Under Leite’s watch, the company opened its first-ever franchised store as part of its new growth strategy. She also expanded distribution to new channels and increased development of private brands.
[Read More: Exclusive: Q&A with Vitamin Shoppe CEO]
Prior to joining The Vitamin Shoppe, Leite was president of Godiva Chocolatier in North America, where she led the business across all channels, including stores, e-commerce and wholesale. Before that, she was president of Sally Beauty, U.S. and Canada.
Leite spent close to a decade at Pier 1 Imports with her last position in 2016 as executive VP of sales, customer experience and real estate.
Earlier in her career, Leite held various executive leadership roles at Bath and Body Works as well as various sales and operations positions with other prominent retailers including Gap Inc., The Walt Disney Company and Express.
Here is Leite’s full LinkedIn post:
I turned my badge in today at The Vitamin Shoppe Hard to believe it was just 4 ½ years ago when I first walked into our offices in Secaucus, NJ. With lots of big ideas on how we could re-imagine what The Vitamin Shoppe could become I set out on a path to learn as fast as I could about a category I knew nothing about. As a newcomer to the industry I am so appreciative of how our health enthusiasts, manufacturers, vendors and leaders in the industry welcomed me and helped guide me. Thank you.
Over the years I've traveled to meet our Health Enthusiasts in our stores and in our DC’s to support, listen and learn. I loved hearing from them how passionate they are about our business, why they care so much about what they do and why they are a Health Enthusiast. Every time I was with them I left inspired to do more, be more … It has been the greatest privilege to be a part of this team.
While I am excited about where I am headed next, I will miss and am incredibly grateful to my team at The Vitamin Shoppe. I am forever a #healthenthusiast.