Jill Scalamandre, Senior Vice President, philosophy brand and Coty Prestige Skin Care, recently talked to Beauty Insider about what attracted her to her new role, which began July 8 and includes a small obsession with philosophy since it launched in 1996.
“The great opportunity I saw was twofold,” said Jill from Phoenix, Arizona, where in conjunction with her arrival to Coty is the relocation of philosophy’s commercial and marketing teams, and research and development, from Phoenix to New York City and Morris Plains, N.J., respectively. Jill will be based in Coty’s New York offices.
“I’ve loved the brand since it launched 14 years ago. I’ve always thought that the love mark had a strong emotional connection. It has such a heart. And that shows when you look at its health scores and when you speak to consumers. For me, that was a motivating factor to work with a brand consumers have such a deep heart for.”
Jill has been tapped to combine the responsibility of a global product and campaign development together with the marketing activation of the brand in the U.S market.
She’s particularly proud of how philosophy marries innovation with inspiration.
“The brand is a very interesting combination of innovation and science. It started out with great products and pillars that were wrapped up in inspirational messaging. It’s about a positive, inspiring routine that the consumer leads. The consumer really does read her Hope in a Jar messaging. It’s a very inspirational and aspirational brand to the overall using of the products.”
Most recently Chief Marketing Officer at Strivectin Operating Company, Jill is also the chairwoman of Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW).
In addition to philosophy’s strong connection with women, Jill said it has traction in all of its distribution channels, too.
“In the areas it plays, it has its legacy in Purity, which is ranked fourth in skin care by NPD. We would probably be in the top two if you included sales at QVC, where it’s the leading beauty brand in terms of sales. Then you have the brand’s sales online. It just has a fluidity across all channels.”
Although her primary and immediate focus will be philosophy, Jill will progressively support Coty’s other skin care brand, Lancaster. Overall, Jill is excited to keep “Coty really penetrated in skin care and to build that pillar. I love skin care and there’s nothing but runway ahead.”