Credo Beauty’s transitional year continues with today’s news that its Board of Directors has promoted co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Annie Jackson to Chief Executive Officer.  Jackson replaces Stuart Millar who joined the company in March 2022. In an interview with CEW’s Andrea Nagel, Jackson reflects on the sustainability trailblazer’s major 2023 transitions, which include three key executive hires, new locations, sustainability goals for partner brands, a relaunched website, and a new store format. In other executive appointment news, Ada Lien has been announced as CEO of Fresh, owned by LVMH. Lien was made Chief Brand and Marketing Officer back in July, and previously spent 17 years at Estée Lauder in roles which included Senior Vice President Global Marketing for La Mer.

Aiming to inspire and facilitate more diversity within the gaming community, Dove has launched Code My Crown, a free online resource, in partnership with the Open Source Afro Hair Library. The goal is to help developers create authentic looking textured hairstyles for video games. “Dove is on a mission to normalize Black hair inclusion and end hair discrimination in gaming,” writes Victoria Kirby for CEW. “With a portfolio of 15 digital hairstyles designed by Black artists, the instructional guide is aimed at professional video game developers but is open to everyone to download for free, giving amateur coders and gaming enthusiasts full access to all the tools and information as well.”

As consumers become permanently budget conscious, WSL Strategic Retail has released a report detailing key ways that beauty shoppers are saving money. “There’s also a core group who may not have to cut back but are being cautious, namely people earning $75,000 to $150,000 who fall in the Gen Z, Millennial, and Gen X” demographic, writes Wendy Liebmann, CEO, WSL Strategic Retail. “Rising prices don’t mean they’re doing without beauty. Instead, they’re getting creative about how to get the products they want at more affordable prices.”

In brand news, Darphin Paris has announced that Olivia Szmidt is its first Global Facialist in Residence. “Together we will develop groundbreaking protocols that blend manual and non-invasive face-lifting techniques with the brand’s high-performing skin care products,” Szmidt, the founder of Get Face Fit, shared on Instagram. “To me, the hand is the most innovative and powerful technology that has ever existed, and I believe that the work Darphin Paris and I will undertake together is precisely what the founder, Pierre Darphin, would have envisioned to carry his expertise into the next century.”

In New York, Unilever is implementing 169 layoffs in beauty and personal care at two plants on Long Island, due to take effect in April 2024.

Catch up on these and more of the day’s beauty news stories below.

Annie Jackson Named CEO of Credo Beauty. The co-Founder and former COO of Credo Beauty takes the helm eight years after pioneering sustainable beauty at retail. (CEW)

Fresh Appoints Ada Lien as CEO. Lien was previously chief brand and marketing officer at Fresh, the brand owned by LVMH. (FASHION NETWORK)

Thomas F. Myers Appointed President and CEO of The Personal Care Products Council. Myers will take up his new role in January 2024. (PCPC)

Dove Inspires Diversity in Gaming. The company has launched Code My Crown,  a free online resource for developers, in collaboration with the Open Source Afro Hair Library. (CEW)

Unilever Cuts 169 Jobs in New York. The layoffs will affect its Amityville and Farmingdale plants in Long Island next year. (CHAILEEDO)

How Budget Conscious Shoppers Are Buying Beauty. A new report by WSL Strategic Retail shares the creative ways consumers are controlling their spending, and how brands might respond. (CEW)

Olivia Szmidt Becomes Global Facialist at Darphin. The hands-on facialist will be the Parisian brand’s first Facialist in Residence. (@OLIVIASZMIDT)

How CVS is Closing The Inclusivity Gap. Launched last January, the store is rising to the challenge with its growing one+other range. (CEW) 

Haut.AI Raises €2 Million. The European generative AI startup announces the results of its first funding round.  (COSMETICS BUSINESS)