Practical, non-promotional guides on executive search, leadership hiring, C-suite roles, executive compensation, governance, and building leadership teams — with deep focus on beauty, personal care, and the broader consumer sector. Start with our hubs: C-Suite Roles, Executive Hiring Guides, Beauty Leadership, Executive Compensation, and the Glossary.
How to Choose an Executive Search Firm: What Actually Matters
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerChoose an executive search firm on genuine sector and functional specialism, a retained and rigorous process, real access to the leaders who are not looking, and a partner who will tell you the truth about the role and the market. For a specific leadership hire, […]
Executive Search for US Market Entry: The First Leadership Hire
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerFor an international brand entering the United States, the first leadership hire usually sets the trajectory of the whole venture. The right first leader — a US General Manager, CEO, or commercial lead — combines authority over the new market with genuine local knowledge and […]
What Does a Chief People Officer Do? The CPO/CHRO Role Explained
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerA Chief People Officer (CPO), or CHRO, leads an organisation’s people strategy — talent, leadership, culture, reward, and organisational design. In consumer and growth businesses it is a commercial role on the executive team, not a support function, and it becomes essential when a company’s […]
How to Hire a Beauty COO: When, Why, and What to Look For
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerHire a beauty COO when operational complexity starts to outrun the founder or CEO — more SKUs, more launches, more channels, and a supply chain under strain. The right COO owns supply, quality, planning, and fulfilment, and gives a fast-growing brand the backbone to scale […]
Executive Search vs. Recruiting: What’s the Difference?
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerExecutive search is a consultative, retained process for senior leadership — it proactively maps the market and approaches the best candidates, including those not looking. Recruiting (often contingent) works active candidates across a broader range of roles and is usually paid only on placement. For […]
What Is Retained Executive Search? A Guide for Hiring Companies
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerRetained executive search is a consultative, exclusive process for hiring senior leaders. You engage a firm on a retainer to run the search end to end — defining the role, mapping the market, approaching and assessing candidates (including those not looking), and managing it through […]
Beauty eCommerce Director: Salary & How to Hire (2026)
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerBeauty eCommerce leaders typically earn a base of $180,000–$350,000+ (VP and senior leaders higher), plus bonus and, at high-growth brands, equity. Hire one when digital becomes a material share of revenue and needs dedicated senior ownership — and look for a leader who balances brand […]
Beauty CEO Salary Guide 2026: What Beauty Chief Executives Earn
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerBeauty CEO base salaries typically run $300,000–$700,000+, with total compensation often reaching seven figures once bonus and equity are included. Equity is usually the biggest lever — especially at founder-led and PE-backed brands — and brand size, ownership, and growth stage move the number more […]
Beauty Executive Compensation in 2026: What Leaders Earn
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerBeauty C-suite base salaries broadly run from ~$200,000 at emerging brands to $600,000+ at larger houses, with total compensation often far higher once bonus and equity are added. CEO and President roles top the range, followed by CMO, Commercial, Product Development, and eCommerce leadership. Ownership […]
How to Hire a CEO for a Beauty Brand
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerHire a beauty CEO when the business has outgrown what the founder can — or wants to — run alone: usually around scaling operations, professionalizing the team, or an investment event. Define what the founder will keep owning, run a retained and confidential search, and […]
