New Avon appoints chief innovation officer

US-based cosmetic firm New Avon has appointed Helene Rutledge as chief innovation officer.

Rutledge will report directly to New Avon chief executive officer Scott White.

She will be responsible for designing innovation strategies and facilitating new product development processes by leveraging internal and external capabilities.

Rutledge will closely collaborate with the marketing, product development, manufacturing and sourcing, research and development teams of New Avon, as well as with external partners to bolster product portfolio.

White said: "Helene brings nearly three decades of operational and innovation experience to New Avon.

"She has strong experience running product innovation for world-class consumer and pharmaceutical companies; expertise which will be invaluable to our product innovation efforts at New Avon.

"Helene will be an outstanding addition to the leadership team, and she will build upon our legacy of offering women first-to-market breakthrough beauty technologies, including our highly successful Anew anti-ageing skincare line and Avon Color cosmetics. This appointment reflects our commitment to being the best social selling beauty company in North America."

Rutledge said: "I look forward to shaping the vision for research and development for New Avon to ensure we continue to deliver leading edge, award-winning innovations to our Avon Representatives and their customers."

Before joining New Avon, Rutledge served as the vice-president of research and development at Nature’s Bounty.

In this role, she led the product and partner development across Nature’s Bounty’s brands including of solid dose, liquid, powder, food and cosmetic form products.

She also served as head of global open innovation at GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare and senior vice president of technology at AeroDesigns.