Today at CEW, Vennette Ho, Managing Director and Head of Beauty, Personal Care & Wellness at Raymond James, talks to CEW about her trailblazing career as a beauty, personal care, and wellness investment banker. Ho will be honored with a 2025 Game-Changer Award at this year’s CEW Achiever Awards. “I work across a range of different types of businesses from brands to supply chain to retailers to service concepts,” she told CEW reporter Gina Way. “It is endlessly changing and exciting and always challenging. My job is a total adventure every single day.”

Also at CEW, we spotlight Jump Accelerator’s Q1 2025 report on the top hair care brands at Ulta Beauty and Sephora. We reveal some of Ulta Beauty and Sephora’s big winners, identified by the Toronto-based accelerator according to rank, segment and trends. 

Talent agency veteran Jay Lopez has launched Twenty-four Eleven, a new agency devoted to diverse talent representation in beauty and fashion. “There are a lot of conversations across companies and across the industry about setting up diverse creatives for success, but they tend to lack follow-through, or feel surface-level,” Lopez told WWD. “That’s because there hasn’t been the infrastructure for doing that in a meaningful, long-term way.”

In breaking news, The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) has tapped Brian Franz as its new Chief Technology, Data & Analytics Officer. Franz will join the company’s Executive Team. “Brian’s experience in modernizing infrastructure, building resilient and sustainable platforms, and advancing AI-driven capabilities will be critical as we accelerate our evolution into a more agile and consumer-focused organization,” commented ELC President and Chief Executive Officer Stéphane de La Faverie. Speaking of tech, Startups Magazine reports that while investment in women’s health solutions has reached an all-time high — hitting $2.6 billion according to the latest report from Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) — “the femtech space continues to grapple with serious challenges.”

Tarte is the latest beauty brand to launch on Amazon. A selection of the brand’s viral bestsellers is available on the platform as of today, in its Premium Beauty store. Meanwhile, The Ordinary is venturing into sun care, with a hotly awaited UV Filters SPF 45 Serum, due to drop on May 6. And the Australian brand Grown Alchemist is making into debut on Nordstrom’s e-commerce site. “We have a dedicated and growing US consumer base that can now access the brand through this new touchpoint, and we are thrilled to engage the Nordstrom shopper and take them on the Grown Alchemist journey,” said Anna Teal, Grown Alchemist’s CEO.

Piper Sandler has revealed that E.l.f. Cosmetics remains in the number one spot for teen spending, according to its 49th semi-annual ‘Taking Stock With Teens’ Survey.

Read more about these news stories by clicking on the links below.

Vennette Ho On Her Trailblazing Career In Beauty Investment Banking. Ho, Managing Director and Head of Beauty, Personal Care & Wellness at Raymond James, is a CEW 2025 Game-Changer Award Honoree. (CEW)

Jump Accelerator Reveals Bestselling Hair Care Brands At Ulta Beauty And Sephora. The Toronto-based accelerator assessed brands according to rank, segment and trends for its Q1 2025 report. (CEW)

Jay Lopez Launches Twenty-four Eleven Talent Agency. The agency is on “a mission to increase diverse talent representation in the beauty and fashion industries.” (WWD)

The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) Taps Brian Franz As Chief Technology, Data & Analytics Officer. Franz will join the company’s Executive Team. (BUSINESS WIRE)

Femtech Thriving But Still Faces Challenges. Startups Magazine reports that investment in women’s health solutions has reached an all-time high but “continues to grapple with serious challenges.” (STARTUPS MAGAZINE)

Tarte Debuts On Amazon. A curation of the brand’s viral bestsellers launches in the retailer’s Premium Beauty store today. (HAPPI)

The Ordinary Launches Sunscreen. The brand’s new UV Filters SPF 45 Serum will launch on 6 May. (COSMETICS BUSINESS)

Grown Alchemist Makes Ecommerce Debut At Nordstrom. The Australian brand’s CEO, Anna Teal, said “We have a dedicated and growing US consumer base that can now access the brand through this new touchpoint, and we are thrilled to engage the Nordstrom shopper and take them on the Grown Alchemist journey.” (GLOBAL COSMETICS NEWS)

E.l.f. In #1 Spot For Teen Spending Reports Piper Sandler. It remains the most popular  cosmetics brand among female teens, according to Piper Sandler. (BEAUTY PACKAGING)