Limited’s Beauty Chief Resigns

Robin Burns, president and ceo of Intimate Beauty Corp. and Victoria’s Secret Beauty Co., divisions of Limited Brands Inc. (Columbus, Ohio), has retired “to spend additional time with her family and will pursue a large array of other interests which may include nonprofit opportunities,” according to a company statement.

“I am very proud of the business and the team we have built over the past six years at Victoria’s Secret Beauty,” Burns said. “As a company, Victoria’s Secret Beauty is solidly positioned as a prestige beauty brand based on an expansive assortment of innovative products of the highest quality. With the leadership and depth of talent we have in place throughout Victoria’s Secret Beauty, I have no doubt that the business will continue to thrive.”

Limited Brands chairman and ceo Leslie Wexner, said, “Robin is one of the finest leaders in the beauty industry. She will surely be missed at Victoria’s Secret Beauty and Limited Brands and by the retail and beauty industry as a whole. I am fully supportive of Robin’s decision and wish her great happiness as she moves to this next phase of her life.” Burns, a 21-year veteran of beauty retailing, joined Limited Brands in 1998, after spending eight years at Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (New York) as the president and ceo of the Estee Lauder brand in North America, and Donna Karan Cosmetics. She also spent seven years as president of Calvin Klein Cosmetics Co. (New York). Her retailing career began at Bloomingdale’s in New York, where during nine years she rose from executive trainee to head the cosmetics division of Bloomingdale’s stores.

“We have complete confidence in the executive committee’s ability to oversee an effective transition and expect to bring the transition process to a close quickly,” said Leonard Schlesinger, Limited Brands vice chairman and coo. “Robin has left the Victoria’s Secret Beauty organization deep in talent and well-managed.” The Victoria’s Secret Beauty executive committee includes: Jill Granoff, executive vp, chief administrative officer; Sherry Baker, executive vp, chief marketing officer; Sam Ghusson, executive vp, operations; Marcia Mossack, executive vp, chief creative officer; Kim Draper, senior vp, chief stores officer; Cindy Drankoski, vp, human resources; Mike Nicholson, vp, cfo; and Stuart Leighty, vp, planning and allocation.