Global News | Jan 3, 2020
Avon announces Jan Zijderveld’s departure as the company opens a new chapter in its history
Avon announces that Jan Zijderveld will step down as Chief Executive Officer concurrent with the sale of the company to Natura &Co and Avon embarks upon the next chapter in its 130-year history, joining the Natura &Co family of companies.
Jan’s departure is effective immediately upon closing, and he will hand over leadership to Natura &Co Executive Chairman Roberto Marques and the leadership team that will be announced soon, when Natura &Co officially closes the acquisition of Avon, which was announced on May 22, 2019 .
In his nearly two years at Avon’s helm, Jan has been instrumental in turning around the company through its Open Up strategy , which aims at making Avon the digital social selling beauty company by rebuilding the fundamentals and modernising its model. This started with strengthening the brand proposition and driving price improvements. Reinvesting in Avon’s beauty entrepreneurs and launching the digitisation of the business, all the while enhancing productivity across the business, transforming its culture and restoring the relevance of this iconic business and brand.
A native of The Netherlands who has lived in eight countries on three continents, Jan joined Avon in February 2018 after a 30-year career at Unilever NV/PLC, during which he was most recently a member of the Unilever Executive Committee and President of Unilever’s European business, the company’s largest operating business.
Avon, by joining a group that includes Natura, The Body Shop and Aesop, will become part of the world’s fourth-biggest pure-play beauty company, reaching more than 200 million consumers worldwide through multiple channels. The group will have annual gross sales above US$10 billion, 6.3 million representatives and consultants, 3,200 stores and a presence in more than 100 countries
“The combination of Avon with Natura &Co is a transformational event and the right moment for Avon to start its next growth phase. I leave Avon with a feeling of pride for what we have accomplished together with the company’s talented and passionate people and teams. With the Open Up strategy, we have made significant progress in building a more stable foundation from which Avon can grow well into the future. We have modernised the brand, sharpened the portfolio and brought on-trend, innovative products to our consumers. Most importantly, we have put our passionate Representatives back at the heart of everything we do, empowering them to grow their business and reach new consumers. Natura &Co is the right home for Avon to accelerate its Open Up strategy and continue to change women’s lives, and I will be cheering from the sidelines.”
Jan Zijderveld
“On behalf of the Board, I would like to express our thanks and sincere admiration to Jan for his tremendous accomplishments at Avon’s helm and know he will do well in his future endeavors. The transaction we have concluded with Natura &Co is testament to his success in turning around the company through his Open Up strategy. He leaves a strong legacy on which to build, and Avon is well positioned to write a new chapter of its growth story with Natura &Co.”
Chan Galbato, chairman of the Board of Directors of Avon