The Body Shop CEO stepping down; former Coach exec named interim chief
The chief executive of The Body Shop is leaving after five years on the job.
The natural beauty products pioneer said that David Boynton is stepping down as CEO. Ian Bickley, a board director at Body Shop parent company Natura &Co, is taking the helm as interim chief executive.
Boynton was named CEO in late 2017, following Natura’s acquisition of The Body Shop from L'Oréal. He was previously the CEO of British men's clothing chain Charles Tyrwhitt and also held several positions at L'Occitane during a 10-year period.
In a release, Natura said that Boynton led a brand and business transformation following the acquisition, and also steered the company through “extraordinary circumstances,” including the global pandemic, the war in Ukraine, supply chain and cost inflation challenges, and consumer uncertainty.
“David has shown incredible passion for The Body Shop during his tenure,” stated Fabio Barbosa, CEO, Natura &Co's Group. “On behalf of the entire Natura &Co board, we want to acknowledge and thank him for his leadership. As we bid farewell to David, we also look forward to this next chapter in the story of The Body Shop. A chapter that holds endless possibilities and prospects for success.”
Interim CEO Bickley is a seasoned expert in the retail and branded consumer goods sector and has an extensive background in managing and growing international franchise opportunities, driving global omnichannel growth, and pioneering innovation, according to the Natura release.
Bickley has been on the Natura board since 2019, where he was on the committee dedicated to The Body Shop. He also sits on the Crocs board.
From 2017 to 2019, Bickley served as president - global business development & strategic alliances, Tapestry. Prior to that, he spent 24 years at Coach, including serving as president of Coach International.
“Ian's passion for the retail sector and his track record of success makes him the right leader to bring new energy to the company,” said Barbosa. “As part of his role, Ian will be working closely with us to find a permanent successor and champion of Anita's legacy – a legacy that continues to inspire us all." [Anita Roddick, who passed away in 2007, was the founder of the Body Shop.]
In his new role, Bickley will be working closely with the Body Shop's executive leadership leam to refine and expand upon the current business plan and accelerate the transformation agenda, to speed up the road to profitability together with a return to sustainable revenue. He will also be working closely with Natura leadership to find a permanent successor to David.
"I am proud and honored to assume the important responsibility of stewarding The Body Shop's tremendous legacy into the future,” said Bickley. “In these incredibly challenging times, the world needs The Body Shop's spirit of activism and outstanding social and environmental credentials more than ever.”
Natura &Co is a global multichannel and multi-brand cosmetics group that includes Avon, Natura, The Body Shop and Aesop. (Earlier this year, Natura agreed to sell Aesop to L’Oréal in a deal valued at some $2.5 billion.) The company posted net revenues of $36.3 billion in 2022.
The Body Shop has more than 2,500 stores in nearly 60 markets.