New CEO at Bath & Body Works Brings Extensive Consumer Experience, Ensuring Brand Equity Persists

On Nov. 2, narrow-moat Bath & Body Works tapped Gina Boswell to serve as CEO, following Andrew Meslow’s decision to step aside in March due to health reasons. The transition is set to take effect on Dec.1, and interim CEO Sarah Nash will reassume her role as chair of the board. Boswell boasts extensive leadership and business development experience from her career at high-profile consumer focused firms including Avon, no-moat Ford, and wide-moat Estee Lauder. More recently (2011-19), Boswell successfully rose through the ranks at wide-moat Unilever after the firm acquired Alberto Culver Company (manufacturer of hair, skin, and beauty products), where she had served as president of global brands. Throughout her years at Unilever, she was named executive vice president of personal care (North America), head of Unilever U.K. and Ireland, and president of customer development, Unilever U.S.A, most recently. We believe Boswell’s executive level experience in beauty, personal care, and home care complement Bath & Body’s product focus and business model. Boswell’s experience in deodorant, skin cleansing and care, and hair care should prove particularly relevant, and will serve the firm well as it leverages its fragrance and bath leadership across expansion categories and products.