TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Shiseido Company, Limited has announced the promotion of Ron Gee to President & CEO of Shiseido Americas, effective July 1, 2021. In addition to his role as CEO, Gee will continue to serve as Global M&A Leader for Shiseido Group. Gee previously served as Interim CEO and as CFO, having held the latter position since 2016. He will continue to report to Masahiko Uotani, President and Group CEO of Shiseido Company, Limited. Gee’s replacement as CFO for Shiseido Americas is expected to be announced imminently.
As regional CEO, Gee will be responsible for driving Shiseido Americas’ strategic vision, in addition to strengthening the region’s organizational structure, optimizing operations and championing its ambitious business objectives. Gee will continue to lead a dynamic portfolio of prestige beauty businesses and will assume global brand holder responsibility for Shiseido’s Americas-based brands including bareMinerals, BUXOM, Drunk Elephant, Laura Mercier, NARS Cosmetics and Tory Burch Beauty, as well as oversight of the region’s shared service functions. He will also lead the company’s commercial businesses in the U.S. and will oversee subsidiaries in Latin America and Canada.
Masahiko Uotani stated, “During his time as CFO and more recently as Interim CEO of the Americas, Ron has indisputably earned his reputation as a keen business leader, collaborative team builder, skilled problem solver and invaluable partner. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, he has shown remarkable leadership in a time of crisis, protecting our business in the region while continuing to drive our ongoing digital transformation. With his leadership, I am confident that Shiseido Americas will achieve even greater success in the market and will continue to contribute boldly to the future of Shiseido Group and our WIN 2023 strategy.”
“I am honored to have been asked to take on the Americas CEO position on a permanent basis,” said Ron Gee. “Since joining the company as CFO five years ago, I have developed a deep respect for Shiseido’s commitment to quality, to innovation, to our consumers, and most importantly, to all of our people. At Shiseido Americas, I have experienced first-hand the dedication and passion of the organization that I now have the privilege to lead, and I am more motivated than ever to continue the important work we do every day. With the support of my executive leadership team, I look forward to building on the success of the Americas region to become even stronger as we position ourselves to win in a post-pandemic landscape.”
A nearly twenty-year veteran of the beauty industry, Gee has overseen businesses across all categories, including makeup, skincare, fragrance and haircare, and in all channels, including luxury/prestige, mass market and salon. Prior to joining Shiseido Americas, Gee served as Chief Financial Officer of the Americas at Coty, Inc., where he was responsible for leading the region’s strategic plan and commercial execution across all businesses and multiple manufacturing sites. Earlier in his career, he served in various financial leadership positions at L’Oréal USA, working on brands such as Maybelline, Garnier, Giorgio Armani, Ralph Lauren and Yves Saint Laurent. Gee received his Master of Business Administration in Finance and Marketing from the New York University Stern Graduate School of Business and his Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Columbia University.
ABOUT SHISEIDO COMPANY, LIMITED
Shiseido was founded in 1872 as the first private Western-style pharmacy in Japan. The business gradually evolved into a cosmetics company, offering people the most advanced technology and the finest aesthetics available in the East or the West. Now known globally as the premier cosmetics company with roots in Japan, the name Shiseido has come to represent the world’s highest standards of quality. Fiercely contemporary and innovative after over 145 years in business, Shiseido Group brands are now sold in over 120 countries and regions. With its new Medium-to-Long-Term Strategy “WIN 2023 and Beyond”, Shiseido aims to become a “PERSONAL BEAUTY WELLNESS COMPANY” and the world’s No.1 Skin Beauty Company by 2030, realizing its corporate mission, BEAUTY INNOVATIONS FOR A BETTER WORLD. Shiseido will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2022. For more information, please visit https://corp.shiseido.com/en/