Avon announces government consultant as new director to aid in turnaround

12-Aug-2013 - Last updated on 13-Aug-2013 at 15:04 GMT

Nancy Killefer, government consultant nominated for the Chief Performance Officer presidential cabinet position in the Obama administration in 2009, has been elected to the Avon Board of directors.

Killefer, 59, is currently Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company, an international management consulting firm, but with retirement reaching her at the end of the month, she will look to take up a position with the cosmetics company.

Avon results announced this month, showed that the company is continuing to rebound from a turbulent couple of years, and it hopes that Killefer coming on board will only strengthen its position further.

Turnaround

"We are so pleased to welcome Nancy to Avon's Board. Her proven leadership in strategy development and execution, brand-building, and organizational efficiencies across sectors will contribute greatly as Avon progresses through its turnaround," says Doug Conant, chairman of the Board of Directors.

Killefer boasts a distinguished 32-year career with McKinsey, focusing on strategy, marketing, and organizational effectiveness and efficiency issues, with emphasis on consumer-based and retail industries prior to her work in the public sector.

"I look forward to joining Avon's Board and bringing my experience cutting through complexity and driving change to the company that is known and loved around the world for both its outstanding beauty products and its efforts to empower women," Killefer says.

Sheri McCoy, Avon CEO adds "Nancy is a terrific addition to Avon's Board of Directors… She will provide valuable insights and guidance as we execute Avon's priorities of building growth platforms, driving simplification and efficiency, and improving organizational effectiveness."

Experience

As well as holding many leadership positions at McKinsey, Killefer also led the Washington, D.C. office from 2000 to 2007 and the global Public Sector practice from 2005 to 2011.

She also has experience in the public sector, serving as Assistant Secretary for Management, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer at the U.S. Department of Treasury from 1997 to 2000, and as a member of the IRS Oversight Board from 2000 to 2005.

Also effective September 1, 2013, Kimberly Ross will step down from the Board having only served the role on an interim basis whilst a new director was found.

Conant added: "The Avon Board expresses gratitude to Ms. Ross for her service on an interim basis, and for her contributions over that time."