Mary Kay bolsters executive team with two new appointments

By

Robin Driver

Published
Jan 24, 2019

Direct-selling beauty brand Mary Kay Inc. announced on Thursday that it has appointed Chaun Harper as senior vice president, chief manufacturing officer and Dr. Lucy Gildea as senior vice president, chief scientific officer.  

 
In his new position, Harper will oversee global manufacturing operations, inventory control, supply planning, transportation and quality.
 
The graduate of Arkansas Tech University and Webster University joined Mary Kay in 2014 as director of production operations. During his time in this role, he drove improvements at the company’s manufacturing facility, achieving increased production efficiency and implementing new employee training and development programs.
  
Prior to Mary Kay, Harper worked at L’Oréal USA, serving in operations and quality functions ranging from industrial quality manager to director of operations for mascara and liquids.

Gildea joined Mary Kay in 2017 and will continue to lead the company’s research and development operations in her new role, leading its product strategy and innovation pipeline.

 
Before coming to the cosmetics company, Gildea, who holds a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases from the University of Cincinnati, spent 15 years at Procter and Gamble, where she was occupied a range of roles related to health care, oral care and beauty technology development.

“In a relatively short period of time, both Chaun and Lucy have made significant contributions and proven to be instrumental in Mary Kay’s research, development, and supply chain operations,” said Mary Kay COO Deborah Gibbins in a release. “In their new roles as members of the company’s executive team, Chaun and Lucy will work to ensure global and regional alignment of strategy and plans for Mary Kay products.”
 
Mary Kay, which celebrates its 55th anniversary this year, currently operates in 40 countries around the world and has a global portfolio of over 700 cosmetics products.