In categories that compete on newness, the Chief Innovation Officer leads how a business creates its future. Here is what the role owns, and how it differs from product and R&D leadership.
What the role owns
A Chief Innovation Officer owns the creation of new value — new products, formats, business models, and ideas — and, crucially, the capability and culture to do it consistently rather than by accident. The role looks beyond the current portfolio to the pipeline of the future, and it connects consumer insight, science or technology, and commercial opportunity.
How it differs from product and R&D
It is broader than product development or R&D, which focus on making and improving products. A Chief Innovation Officer owns the wider question of how the business renews itself — which may include new products, but also new models, channels, and ways of creating value. In some businesses the roles combine; in others they are distinct.
Why it matters in beauty
In beauty and other categories that compete on newness, the ability to innovate repeatably is a real source of advantage. A dedicated innovation leader exists to make that a capability the business owns, rather than a series of lucky launches.
What it means for hiring
Define whether you need a product-and-pipeline innovator, a business-model innovator, or a capability-builder — they are different profiles. A retained search matches the leader to that mandate.
Hiring an innovation leader?
We recruit Chief Innovation and Chief Product Officers across beauty and consumer businesses.
Explore Product & Innovation Search →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a Chief Innovation Officer and a Chief Product Officer?
A Chief Product Officer owns the product portfolio and pipeline; a Chief Innovation Officer owns the broader creation of new value — products, models, and ideas — and the capability to do it repeatably. They sometimes combine.
Why does a business need a Chief Innovation Officer?
In categories that compete on newness, to make innovation a repeatable capability the business owns — rather than a series of one-off launches — spanning products, models, and ways of creating value.
Related: What Does a Chief Product Officer Do? · Beauty Product Development Search · What Makes a Great Beauty Leader
