New Leadership at Crabtree & Evelyn

Crabtree & Evelyn has named Stephen W. Bestwick—who had been acting president during its Chapter 11 exercise—to president of Crabtree & Evelyn, Ltd., and hired Rick Ruffoloas executive vice president of global brand marketing and innovation.

According to Crabtree & Evelyn, the new leadership team blends the best of tradition with innovation. Bestwick brings a wealth of knowledge and more than 20 years of finance and operations experience at Crabtree & Evelyn while Ruffolo is an industry-recognized expert in consumer-driven innovation, in fragrance development, and consumer marketing with a long history of profitably driving growth and strategic innovation at leading consumer-facing companies.

Prior to his appointment to his current position, Bestwick has held various positions of increasing responsibility within the company including financial controller, who restructured and reorganized company operations in Australia, and executive vice president of global operations. His most recent tenure was as acting president where he successfully guided the company through Chapter 11. As president, he will oversee the company’s sales channels as well as manufacturing and distributions operations in the USA. He will also retain executive responsibility for the company’s global supply chain.

Ruffolo’s career spans more 20 years starting in brand management at Procter & Gamble followed by executive leadership positions of increasing responsibilities at several leading CPG firms, including SC Johnson, Limited Brands and Illuminations. He most recently served as the chief marketing, brand, and innovation officer at the Yankee Candle Company. In his new role, he will oversee the company’s global brand marketing and innovation initiatives.