his year redefined fashion and beauty. For industry insiders, it was a year of contending with evolving shopping behavior, accelerated trends and new consumer expectations, spurred by technology and pandemic-overhauled priorities. And that’s not to mention ongoing economic instability and related logistical roadblocks. Companies managing to triumph through the tumult have a commonality in the form of team members who emerged as leaders. Thanks to their tenacity, initiative, speed or forward-thinking, these workers proved lifelines, growth drivers or difference makers in stabilizing the brand’s positioning or bottom line.
The Groundbreakers
The Accelerators
The Dealmakers
The Giants
The Trendsetters
The Authorities
The Changemakers
Others, meanwhile, enacted change on a more macro level, leading the landscape to a more positive place and, often, elevating their employer in the process. This list celebrates those executives. In rallying colleagues and innovating around shakeups, honorees defined style, set new industry standards and proved the power of collaboration. They also made industry-transforming deals, pioneered influential marketing strategies and solidified inclusivity as a movement, versus a fashion and beauty buzzword. Meet the 2022 Glossy 50.
Tatiana Pile
Zofia Zwieglinska
Liz Flora
Danny Parisi
Jill Manoff
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The people who shaped fashion and beauty this year.
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In March, Morgan Stanley reported that the Swiss watch industry's No. 2 spot, traditionally held by Omega, was usurped by Cartier. Mercedes Abramo is leading the brand’s expansion into the U.S., the company's largest market.
Mercedes Abramo
President and CEO, Cartier N.A.
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After launching her namesake brand in 2013 and subsequently pivoting it to DTC, Sarah Flint has hit the gas in the last two years, opening stores, expanding to new categories and appointing a CEO.
Sarah Flint
Founder, executive chairman and creative director, Sarah Flint
Since launching her self-owned, namesake fashion brand in 2003, Nili Lotan has played by her own rules — and it’s served the company well. It's rapidly expanding and set to bring in $100 million this year.
Nili Lotan
Founder, CEO and designer, Nili Lotan
After joining Coty as CEO in 2020, Sue Nabi set her sights on turning around CoverGirl. In the fourth quarter of 2022, the brand experienced positive market gains, driving Coty’s consumer business to net revenues of $505.5 million.
Sue Nabi
CEO, Coty
Claire’s has been undergoing rapid evolution since CEO Ryan Vero joined the 60-year-old company in 2019. That's included greatly expanding its distribution from branded mall stores to retailers from Walmart to Galeries Lafayette.
Ryan Vero
CEO, Claire's
The creatives behind the buzziest consumer trends
In the last year, Carol Hamilton helped L'Oréal acquire Youth To The People and Skinbetter Science. She also took the reins of the company's second, California-based U.S. headquarters, poising it for more West Coast transactions.
Carol Hamilton
Head of M&A, L'Oréal
In September, Tata Harper's namesake brand, Tata Harper Skincare, was purchased by South Korean beauty giant The Amorepacific Group. The acquisition indicated to beauty insiders that the Group was eager for modernization.
Tata Harper
Founder, Tata Harper
Fanny Moizant leads Vestiaire Collective, one of the largest players in global luxury resale with a $1.79 billion valuation. After acquiring American competitor Tradesy in March, the company counts the U.S. as its largest market.
Fanny Moizant
Co-founder and president, Vestiaire Collective
Since joining Procter & Gamble’s prestige beauty roster in January, Tula Skincare has been in rapid expansion mode, with Savannah Sachs at the helm. Launching new products and entering new retailers are among its strategies.
Savannah Sachs
CEO, Tula
Bolstered by its Mighty Patch hero product, Hero Cosmetics owns 63% of the acne patch category. The brand recently crossed $100 million in sales and sold to conglomerate Church & Dwight for $630 million.
Ju Rhyu
CEO and co-founder, Hero Cosmetics
In the last year, ELC's New Incubation Ventures has made four investments in emerging brands with an eye on international markets. That's included Toronto-based grooming brand Faculty Men and Haeckels, based in the U.K.
Shana Randhava
VP, ELC New Incubation Ventures, Estée Lauder Companies
Puig continued to expand its global roster of beauty brands this year, announcing its acquisition of buzzy lifestyle brand Byredo in March. It also took majority stakes in Loto del Sur and Kama Ayurveda.
Marc Puig
CEO, Puig
In the last year, Farfetch has grown its revenue to over $2 billion, expanded from fashion into beauty, struck up a joint venture with Alibaba and acquired a major stake in Yoox Net-a-Porter.
José Neves
Chairman and CEO, Farfetch
“My macro mission is taking a 54-year-old brand and making it feel like a modern brand,” Sameer Agarwal said. To achieve this, he's refocused Clinique's marketing, on multicultural consumers, Gen Z and IRL experiences.
Sameer Agarwal
VP of marketing, Clinique N.A.
"This felt like starting a new business," Brendan Babenzien said, of stepping into the role of J.Crew men's creative director. Styles in his first J.Crew collection, released in July, fueled buzz and sold old.
Brendon Babenzien
Men's creative director, J.Crew
In September, Ulta Beauty expanded its wellness shop, introduced in May 2021, to include intimate wellness. VP of merchandising Penny Coy led the launch, which has been embraced by Ulta shoppers.
Penny Coy
VP of Merchandising, Ulta Beauty
Driven by Cindy Deily, Sephora launched sexual wellness in February. Marketing emails regarding the expansion saw some of Sephora's highest click-through rates, and “vibrator” was the top search term on Sephora.com in the week following.
Cindy Deily
VP of skincare merchandising, Sephora
Since joining Puma 10 years ago, Anne-Laure Descours has established an innovative, sustainability-focused supply chain that's heightened the brand's appeal among Gen Z.
Anne-Laure Descours
Head of sourcing, Puma
Esi Eggleston Bracey became president of Unilever USA, the company’s largest market for beauty and personal care, in July. While at Unilever, she's championed the CROWN Act, which passed in 10 states this year.
Esi Eggleston Bracey
President, Unilever USA; CEO, Unilever N.A. Personal Care
In April, Michael Johnson spearheaded a splashy marketing campaign for the launch of Zitsticka’s then-new Face Map zit stickers. In the third quarter, Zitsticka’s new customer acquisition grew by a double-digit percentage.
Michael Johnson
Head of growth, Zitsticka
Promoted to general merchandising manager in August, Sam Lobban has maintained excitement around Nordstrom's assortment with his sharp focus on ultra-relevant products and pop-ups. The New Concepts 018: Virgil Abloh Securities shop was a standout this year.
Sam Lobban
EVP, GMM of women's apparel, men's apparel and designer, Nordstrom
Since joining Glossier from L'Oréal last year, head of brand Kleo Mack has spearheaded initiatives like a first-of-its-kind Shoppable Shorts Challenge on YouTube. This year, Glossier opened three stores and entered 600 Sephora doors.
Kleo Mack
SVP of Global Marketing
Evident in his creation of Coach's must-have 'it' Tabby bag during the pandemic, Stuart Vevers' innovative interpretation of the brand's approach to expressive luxury has set the American fashion house up for the ultimate comeback.
Stuart Vevers
Creative director, Coach
At Levi's, Katia Walsh has grown the AI and data team, streamlined processes across the supply chain, implemented demand pattern forecasting and incorporated AI into business operations across the board.
Katia Walsh
SVP and chief strategy and AI officer, Levi's
Since 2020, Nora Zukauskaite has executed several successful campaigns and projects across Brand Agency London brands Ciaté London, Lottie London and Skin Proud. The company has experienced a 15% revenue increase in the last year.
Nora Zukauskaite
Marketing director, Lottie London, Skin Proud, Ciaté
Kim Kardashian has decidedly been successful at charting her own course: When launching Skims, the designs were entirely based on her own preferences. Less than three years later, Skims was valued at $3.2 billion.
Kim Kardashian
Founder and CEO, SKKN By Kim; co-founder and co-managing partner, SKKY Partners; co-founder and creative director, Skims
Twelve-year old On Holding AG, founded by Olivier Bernhard and backed by Roger Federer, entered its IPO in September 2021 with a $6 billion valuation. For 2022, it’s projecting net sales of $1.1 billion.
Olivier Bernhard
Co-founder and CEO, On Running
Along with being co-founder of Good American, the denim-fueled brand co-run by Khloé Kardashian, Emma Grede is co-founder of cleaning supply company Safely, chairman of influencer agency ITB Worldwide and founding partner of booming Skims.
Emma Grede
Co-founder and CEO, Good American
For Alo Yoga, Angelic Vendette has pioneered popular events, like 1-year-old Alo House, and digital activations. The latter includes Alo's recent entry into the metaverse and launch of a Roblox-based "sanctuary," attracting 55 million visitors.
Angelic Vendette
CMO, Alo Yoga
Shani Darden
Founder, Shani Darden
One of makeup’s biggest trendsetters as head makeup artist for HBO’s “Euphoria,” Donni Davy’s work has fueled crazes for everything from face gems to glitter eyeshadow. She launched makeup brand Half Magic in May.
Donni Davy
Co-founder and creative director, Half Magic
Since its Ark style became the “it” bag of 2016, Jasmin Larian Hekmat’s Cult Gaia has shown it’s more than a one-hit wonder. This year, its Hera bag became part of the post-lockdown party-girl uniform.
Jasmin Hekmat
Founder and creative director, Cult Gaia
Matthew Herman and David Kien’s Boy Smells has gone from side candlemaking project to powerhouse fragrance startup. The “genderful” brand retained its growth trajectory this year with retail expansion, new category launches and celebrity collaborations.
Matthew Herman and David Kien
Co-founders and creators, Boy Smells
Fashion stylist Harry Lambert’s work has turned stars from Emma Corrin to, most famously, Harry Styles into fashion icons. In step, he’s fueled the success of young designers by putting their clothes in the spotlight.
Harry Lambert
Stylist
Shani Darden's skin-care prowess earned her the reputation of "aesthetician to the stars," which led her to create 9-year-old Shani Darden Skincare, known for championing retinol. Now, the brand is in growth mode.
At the helm of Birkenstock, one of the oldest footwear brands in the world, is Oliver Reichert. His impact as CEO can be seen in the company's recent foray into luxury and strategic brand collaborations.
Oliver Reichert
CEO, Birkenstock
After Ditte Reffstrup and her husband took ownership of Ganni in 2009, they transformed the small Danish brand into a destination for consumers seeking the “cool girl” aesthetic. It opened 20 stores in 2022.
Ditte Reffstrup
Creative director, Ganni
Influencer-entrepreneur Chriselle Lim relaunched the “clean” fragrance brand Phlur in February. Shortly after, with the help of TikTok and superinfluencer Mikayla Nogueira, its debut fragrance, Missing Person, went viral.
Chriselle Lim
Owner and creative director, Phlur
Known for its bond-building Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask, K18 launched in March 2020, quickly establishing itself as a trusted stylist favorite. The company now sells one of its hero products every 10 seconds.
Suveen Sahib
Founder, K18
In 2019, Ari Bloom launched incubator A-Frame Brands to secure funding for brands filling a need for underrepresented communities. Now, its portfolio includes Gabrielle Union and Dwayne Wade’s baby skin-care brand, Proudly, among others.
Ari Bloom
Founder and CEO, A-Frame Brands
In December 2021, Nike acquired collectible sneaker retailer and NFT platform RTKFT, co-founded by Benoit Pagotto. Nike now leads the metaverse fashion sector with $185 million in NFT sales.
Benoit Pagotto
Co-founder, RTFKT; senior director of brand and partnerships, Nike
Among companies driving fashion’s circular economy is Finland-based materials company Spinnova, with Janne Sporanen at the helm. This year, Sporanen led partnerships with Adidas and Marimekko to create quality garments out of wood pulp.
Janne Poranen
Co-founder and CEO, Spinnova
In 2019, industry-popular cosmetic chemist Ron Robinson introduced his own brand, Beauty Stat Cosmetics, which quickly became known for its vitamin C serum. And this year, Robinson helped Hailey Bieber launch her beauty brand, Rhode.
Ron Robinson
Founder and CEO, Beauty Stat
Through the Instagram account Up Next Designer, public relations veteran Albert Ayal has established a global stage and launchpad for fashion designers that has catapulted careers and leveled the playing field for young creatives.
Albert Ayal
Founder and creative director, Up Next Designer
Parsons' dean of fashion since 2020, Ben Barry has moved fast to modernize the school's curriculum. His prioritization of inclusivity, sustainability and digital technology across teachings has big implications for American fashion’s future.
Ben Barry
Dean of fashion, Parsons School of Design
In June, when the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade, select fashion and beauty brands spoke out. Benefit was among the loudest and most consistent, with Maggie Ford Danielson leading the charge.
Maggie Ford Danielson
Director of brand outreach, Benefit
Hair extensions and wigs have garnered more attention in 2022 as a beauty category in need of innovation. Taking the lead is Diishan Imira, CEO and co-founder of Mayvenn, which raised $40 million this year.
Diishan Imira
Co-founder and CEO, Mayvenn
Twenty-four-year-old Olamide Olowe became the youngest Black woman to raise over $2 million in funding in November, when her booming and profitable skin-care brand, Topicals, received a $10 million Series A financing round.
Olamide Olowe
Founder and CEO, Topicals
Aaron Rose Philip’s career took off this year, with appearances on the runways of Moschino and Collina Strada and the covers of Paper and V magazines. She’s now one of the industry's highest-profile disabled models.
Aaron Rose Philip
Model
This year, LVMH’s Corey Smith led the conglomerate to forge a groundbreaking partnership with Harlem’s Fashion Row. It’s now supporting HFR's mission to foster emerging design talents of color, putting its weight behind progressing DE&I in fashion.
Corey Smith
Head of diversity and inclusion, N.A., LVMH
The Innovators
Along with leading Pangaia’s first collaboration — a shoe created with Timberland, released in November — Amanda Parkes advanced Pangaia’s reputation for leading sustainable material innovation. In October, the brand dropped a stain-resistant “Dropel” material.
Amanda Parkes
Chief innovation officer, Pangaia
