Glossier Announces CEO Kyle Leahy’s Exit as Brand Enters Next Growth Phase

Glossier says goodbye to its CEO. The U.S. cosmetics company has announced the departure of Kyle Leahy, until now responsible for leading the company’s business, a position she began three years ago.

In a note to Glossier staff, Leahy said that when she took over the position, she “felt honored to assume her role as CEO” of the company that Weiss formed, WWD has exclusively reported.

“The board and I believe this is the right time to bring in the next CEO to lead this new phase of growth,“ Leahy added in the same statement.

Leahy joined Glossier in 2021 as the company’s chief commercial officer, before replacing its founder in 2022, Emili Weiss. Over the course of these months until her departure, the executive will continue on the board, thus remaining on Glossier’s board until 2026 and will assist in the search for her successor or successor.

Glossier joined Sephora in 2023, and this month, the company will expand into France with the retailer.

Glossier has not yet announced Kyle Leahy’s successor

Glossier, a benchmark in millennial cosmetics settled in the direct-to-consumer business, announced its groping in the physical channel in Europe, expanding the brand’s fragrance division in a pop up in Paris. The temporary immersive store opened its doors until March 30.

In order to sustain this purpose, the company upped its bet on the fragrance category, boosted with a first perfume in 2017. The decision is strategic and the segment that the brand wants to dominate looks more than greedy.

Glossier, which in the United States operates through its ecommerce, points of sale in the French giant Sephora and a developed network of physical stores, in cities such as Los Angeles or New York, aims to replicate its success in Europe. Accustomed to making cash at a high rate and backed by the success of the online channel, the company is now looking to replicate the recipe beyond its home market. In London, Glossier opened its first European physical store in 2021. Located in Covent Garden, the permanent space raised its shutters following the organization of several ephemeral stores.

In 2021, the brand closed a new Series E funding round, this time for $80 million, to resume its physical expansion with the main backing of Lone Pine Capital fund. The New York company, which does not report its financial results, was then valued at more than $2 billion.