02.05.18
Avon Products, Inc. has tapped Jan Zijderveld to serve as chief executive officer, effective immediately, succeeding Sheri McCoy, who previously announced her intention to retire from the company and board. Jan will also serve as a member of the board of directors.
Jan joins Avon from Unilever, where he has had a 30-year career, living and working in seven countries across three continents. He most recently served as a member of Unilever's executive committee, and as president of Unilever's $14 billion European business.
As president of Europe, Jan was responsible for Unilever's largest operating business, encompassing 34 countries and 25,000 employees. Under Jan's leadership, the European business stabilized and returned to growth and improved profitability following several years of decline and during significantly challenging market conditions. He previously served as executive vice president in South East Asia and Australasia, where he drove substantial organic growth through a significant step-up in innovation, market development and in-store execution. During this time, Jan was also non-executive chairman of Unilever's listed Indonesian business.
Prior to that, as CEO of Unilever, Middle East and North Africa, Jan successfully led a complex business, in a volatile region, which included many joint venture partners and several distributor and go to market models. While leading this region, he refocused the food and personal care portfolio and created dedicated modern and traditional trade channels to meet the needs of the changing marketplace. In addition, Jan has previously held a number of leadership positions across Europe, Australia and New Zealand, where he built his career in General Management, marketing, sales and distribution.
"On behalf of the board of directors, we are delighted to welcome Jan to Avon, who we unanimously appointed from a very strong list of seasoned global executives," said Chan Galbato, chairman of the board of directors of Avon. "With his 30-year track record as a proven global leader, Jan has driven profitable growth in large, multi-channel, complex consumer businesses across emerging, developing and developed markets."
Galbato added, "On behalf of the board, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Sheri McCoy for her leadership and commitment to Avon. During her time as CEO, Sheri has ensured Avon representatives are at the forefront of all the company does."
Jan joins Avon from Unilever, where he has had a 30-year career, living and working in seven countries across three continents. He most recently served as a member of Unilever's executive committee, and as president of Unilever's $14 billion European business.
As president of Europe, Jan was responsible for Unilever's largest operating business, encompassing 34 countries and 25,000 employees. Under Jan's leadership, the European business stabilized and returned to growth and improved profitability following several years of decline and during significantly challenging market conditions. He previously served as executive vice president in South East Asia and Australasia, where he drove substantial organic growth through a significant step-up in innovation, market development and in-store execution. During this time, Jan was also non-executive chairman of Unilever's listed Indonesian business.
Prior to that, as CEO of Unilever, Middle East and North Africa, Jan successfully led a complex business, in a volatile region, which included many joint venture partners and several distributor and go to market models. While leading this region, he refocused the food and personal care portfolio and created dedicated modern and traditional trade channels to meet the needs of the changing marketplace. In addition, Jan has previously held a number of leadership positions across Europe, Australia and New Zealand, where he built his career in General Management, marketing, sales and distribution.
"On behalf of the board of directors, we are delighted to welcome Jan to Avon, who we unanimously appointed from a very strong list of seasoned global executives," said Chan Galbato, chairman of the board of directors of Avon. "With his 30-year track record as a proven global leader, Jan has driven profitable growth in large, multi-channel, complex consumer businesses across emerging, developing and developed markets."
Galbato added, "On behalf of the board, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Sheri McCoy for her leadership and commitment to Avon. During her time as CEO, Sheri has ensured Avon representatives are at the forefront of all the company does."