Mary Kay Inc., the renowned beauty and entrepreneurship company, has announced the appointment of Dr. Lucy Gildea as its new Chief Brand and Scientific Officer. In this pivotal role, Gildea will lead the company’s global brand and science initiatives, driving growth and customer loyalty across more than 40 markets worldwide.
Gildea, who joined Mary Kay in 2017, will oversee a newly designed, cross-functional team tasked with reshaping the company’s operations. The team will focus on bolstering the brand’s identity, enhancing its product portfolio, and ensuring a consistent message across all platforms and geographies. By using advanced engagement strategies, Gildea and her team will leverage Mary Kay’s next-generation entrepreneurs and brand storytelling to connect with customers on a deeper level, creating lasting relationships and enhancing brand value.
Ryan Rogers, CEO of Mary Kay and grandson of the company’s founder, Mary Kay Ash, praised Gildea’s expertise and vision. “With her deep knowledge of science, beauty innovation, and customer-centric strategies, Lucy will help us transform and further elevate our global brand. The new Global Brand and Science organisation will play a key role in enabling our Independent Beauty Consultants to offer a truly transformative experience to their customers,” said Rogers.
Before joining Mary Kay, Gildea had a successful 15-year tenure at Procter & Gamble (P&G), where she led teams in beauty technology, product development, and skincare innovations. During her time at P&G, she worked internationally, including in Singapore, and led projects across the beauty, healthcare, and personal care industries. Her broad experience in global markets and product innovation has equipped her with the skills to further enhance Mary Kay’s competitiveness in the evolving beauty sector.
Commenting on her new role, Dr. Gildea expressed her enthusiasm for integrating brand and science to drive Mary Kay’s continued success. “Mary Kay was founded with a vision to enrich women’s lives through scientifically rooted products. I am confident that merging brand and science will enable us to better meet global consumer needs while inviting a new generation to connect with our brand. I look forward to collaborating with our teams to captivate both our Independent Beauty Consultants and consumers alike,” she said.
Gildea holds a Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. She also completed a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Immunology at the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Additionally, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky.
Outside of her professional role, Gildea is a passionate advocate for women and girls in STEM and serves on the Board of the Baylor Scott & White Dallas Foundation. She is also an advisor at the Baylor Scott & White Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center.
This leadership appointment further honours the legacy of Mary Kay Ash, the company’s founder, who was dedicated to empowering women. Currently, 63% of Mary Kay’s R&D team, 54% of its executive team, and 63% of its global workforce are women, continuing Ash’s vision of creating a supportive and empowering environment for women in the workplace.
