The Vitamin Shoppe taps veteran fashion, beauty exec for new key role
A seasoned retail executive has joined the leadership team at The Vitamin Shoppe.
The company has appointed Muriel F. Gonzalez as executive VP, chief merchandising and marketing officer, effective immediately. In this new role, she will spearhead all merchandising, marketing, product development and private brands initiatives, driving a “cohesive and integrated vision for The Vitamin Shoppe's ongoing reinvention as the industry's premiere health and wellness lifestyle retailer,” the company said.
Gonzalez has a four-decades long career in senior roles at Macy's, Bergdorf Goodman, Estée Lauder, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Ann Taylor. She previously held several senior merchandising roles at Macy's from 2006 to 2017, leaving as executive VP, general merchandise manager of beauty, where she held strategic responsibility for the $3.7 billionbeauty business within 650 Macy's stores, macys.com, and the Bluemercury specialty concept.
While at Macy's, Gonzalez also held various GMM roles in the fragrance, women's shoes, handbags, accessories, jewelry, and intimate apparel categories.
Earlier in her career, Gonzalez spent nine years at Estée Lauder North America, serving as senior VP, marketing, responsible for all aspects of brand marketing, product development. She also previously held roles as executive VP, chief marketing officer at Ann Taylor; senior VP, GMM for non-apparel at Bergdorf Goodman, with responsibility for beauty, accessories, jewelry, shoes, decorative home, intimate apparel, swim, and coats, and VP, divisional merchandise manager at Saks Fifth Avenue.
Reporting into Gonzalez at The Vitamin Shoppe are the merchandising, marketing, product development and private brands, and content and creative teams.
“Muriel brings vast experience in brand building, product development and innovation, and driving revenue growth in a specialty environment,” said Sharon M. Leite, CEO, Vitamin Shoppe. “Her talents in forging vibrant vendor relationships and strategic partnerships will be crucial to the continued revitalization of our product assortments and total customer experience. Additionally, Muriel's unique perspectives from fashion and beauty will be a defining factor as we evolve and elevate The Vitamin Shoppe brand, strengthening the vital connection between our merchandise and messaging."
The Vitamin Shoppe conducts business through over 730 company-operated retail stores under The Vitamin Shoppe and Super Supplements banners, and via its website.