Heidi Manheimer, who has led Shiseido Cosmetics America as CEO since 2000, has resigned and will leave her post at the end of September.
A job well done
Reflecting on her time with the company, Manheimer says, “I am proud of what Shiseido Cosmetics America has accomplished in the U.S. beauty industry and where the brand stands today, not only in terms of sales and market-share growth but also our product innovation and popularity among consumers.”
Manheimer’s work, particularly with ecommerce and the skin care and sun care categories, bolstered Shisedio’s standing in the States.
“She has been a pioneer with our organization, and during her tenure the Shiseido U.S. skincare business grew to the #5 ranking, our suncare business reached the #1 spot, and we launched Shiseido.com and ecommerce for Clé de Peau Beauté, while driving and achieving profitability for Shiseido in the United States,” Masahiko Uotani, president and CEO of Shiseido Co., Ltd, says in a media release about the changing leadership.
Team transition
“Heidi has been an exceptional, passionate leader at Shiseido for more than 15 years, and her contributions and stewardship have had a transformative impact on SCA’s business and brand name in the United States,” Uotani confirms.
Manheimer will work closely with Rey in the coming weeks to ensure a smooth transition in leadership and to pass along her valuable institutional knowledge: “I look forward to assisting Marc over the next two months and I am confident that SCA and all Shiseido’s U.S. brands will enjoy success and growth under his leadership.”
Next in line
The position that Rey takes on is two-fold. He will act at the regional head of the company’s Americas business as well as serve as the global strategic brand holder for NARS Cosmetics and Bare Escentuals.
Rey will bring his recent experience working as president of Coty USA to bear on the new role. Prior to his nearly three-year stint with Coty, Rey held posts with L’Oreal, YSL, and Johnson & Johnson.
This array of exposure should work to his advantage given the scope of his new role with the company. “Marc’s deep and wide beauty knowledge, his experience operating simultaneously in a regional and global brand leadership capacity in a matrix organization, and his motivational, inspiring leadership are a perfect fit for Shiseido,” observes Uotani.
The vison 2020 initiative and this new appointment have been engineered to position the company as a strong beauty leader globally. “My unwavering priorities will be to grow each of the dynamic and unique brands in the Shiseido portfolio and to use all my experience and energy to help write the next chapter of this prestigious company,” says Rey.