Dive Brief:
- Sunscreen brand Supergoop has named Melis del Rey its new chief executive officer and board director, which will be effective come Monday, according to a company press release.
- A veteran beauty executive, del Rey was most recently general manager of Amazon U.S. Health and Beauty and spent over 10 years with the retail giant. Del Rey also spent more than a decade at Procter & Gamble in marketing and sales leadership positions across its global beauty portfolio.
- At Supergoop, del Rey succeeds Gregory Polcer, who has been the brand’s interim CEO since May of this year. He remains on the company’s board of directors.
Dive Insight:
Supergoop has seen a number of CEO changes over the past few years, including in 2016 when Amanda Baldwin was named chief executive. Baldwin announced she would leave the brand in 2023 to become CEO of Olaplex and was succeeded by Lisa Sequino, who left after about a year and a half to join The Estée Lauder Companies. Polcer then took over on an interim basis.
Melis del Rey
Courtesy of Supergoop
“Melis is a dynamic and visionary leader with a proven track record of building global brands, strengthening retail partnerships, and delivering exceptional consumer experiences,” Edgar Huber, chairman of the board at Supergoop, said in a statement. “Her innovative approach to brand building and deep expertise across beauty, e-commerce, and omnichannel strategy make her uniquely suited to lead Supergoop into its next era of growth.”
Del Rey is taking over a brand that founder Holly Thaggard started in order to make using SPF sunscreen a fun, everyday experience. The brand has expanded into other areas, such as makeup and moisturizer. It also makes products for toddlers.
Supergoop sold a majority stake of the company to Blackstone in 2021. The next year, the brand also expanded its C-Suite and launched new SPF-related products. Thaggard stepped away from her day-to-day governance at Supergoop in April.
“Supergoop is one of those rare brands that defines a category rather than simply participating in it,” del Rey said in a statement. “The brand’s commitment to innovation, education, and joyful sun protection has already transformed how people think about SPF. I’m thrilled to help accelerate that momentum — expanding our impact, deepening consumer connection, and bringing Supergoop’s mission into more routines around the world.”