Helen of Troy Limited appointed G. Scott Uzzell, most recently corporate vice president and general manager of Nike North America and former president of Converse, as chief executive officer, effective September 1.
Brian Grass, the company’s current interim CEO, will return to his role as chief financial officer. Helen of Troy’s former CEO Noel Geoffroy resigned on May 5.
Helen of Troy’s brands include Hydro Flask, Osprey, OXO, Vicks, Braun, Honeywell, PUR, Hot Tools, Drybar, Curlsmith, Revlon, and Olive & June.
Timothy F. Meeker, chairman of the Board, stated: “Following a vigorous, deliberate, and thoughtful executive search, the Board has unanimously determined that G. Scott Uzzell is the right person to lead Helen of Troy and capitalize on the Company’s leading consumer brand platform. He is a strategic leader with a strong track record of building and growing consumer brands. We believe he has the ability to bring people together, develop and retain talent, and enrich our culture and values, all while being a strong allocator of capital with sound risk management. Scott has great sensitivity to the needs, wants, and expectations of consumers and has the ability to grasp the spirit of the times. His intimate knowledge of brand building and his ability to unite and engage teams is exactly what Helen of Troy needs as it enters its next chapter to boost product innovation and growth.”
Meeker continued: “On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Brian Grass and Tracy Scheuerman for their dedicated leadership as interim CEO and CFO. Their discipline and focus have been a source of stability as we continue the work needed to deliver better execution, rebuild innovation, restore growth, and regain investor confidence. I am confident they will assist Scott in making a smooth transition.”
Uzzell commented: “I am excited to have the opportunity to lead Helen of Troy and continue to develop its distinguished family of highly trusted brands and innovations that delight consumers. I intend to leverage the Company’s durable foundation as a purpose-driven innovation leader to serve the needs of consumers and to elevate lives in moments that matter everywhere, every day. I look forward to working with Helen of Troy’s talented associates to return the Company to consistent growth and deliver strong value creation for shareholders. I also want to take this opportunity to thank Tim and the Board of Directors for this honor and I am eager to begin partnering with the team to build a successful future for all stakeholders.”
Uzzell most recently served as corporate vice president & general manager of Nike North America and was a member of the Nike, Inc. executive leadership Team. Nike North America generates over $21 billion revenue with more than 30,000 employees across all aspects of Nike and Jordan Brands. Prior to Nike North America, he was president & CEO of Converse, Inc. for four years where he led a turnaround built on new product innovation and marketplace excellence. Uzzell joined Converse, Inc. from The Coca-Cola Company, where he served as president of the Venturing & Emerging Brands Group (VEB). He led the development of a portfolio of emerging brands including Honest Tea, Body Armor, Health-Ade Kombucha and Fairlife Milk. Under Uzzell’s leadership, VEB successfully identified and invested in trend-forward brands and categories, closing multiple M&A transactions to enhance shareholder value.
Uzzell began his career in sales and marketing for leading consumer goods companies, including Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, and Nabisco, before returning to Coca-Cola in 2001 to step into more prominent leadership roles.
Images courtesy Osprey/Scott Uzzell
