DECIEM CEO Nicola Kilner to step down

Nicola Kilner, the co-founder and CEO of DECIEM, will step down from her role at the end of this year, five months after The Estée Lauder Companies completed its acquisition of the business.

She will remain as co-founder and still be involved with the company. A successor is yet to be named.

Kilner began her career in beauty at British retailer Boots, working her way up the ranks to become Buying Manager for Innovation.

In 2013, she launched DECIEM with Canadian computer scientist and entrepreneur Brandon Truaxe, who passed away in 2019.

The company has launched a number of brands since its launch, offering supplements, haircare and bodycare, but skincare brand The Ordinary, launched in 2017, has proved its biggest success.

The Estée Lauder Companies completed its $1.7 billion acquisition of DECIEM in May, having first invested in the skincare company in 2017, increasing its stake to become majority owner in 2021.

Kilner’s departure is the latest in a number of leadership reshuffles at The Estée Lauder Companies, with Stéphane de La Faverie recently named as its new CEO, effective January 2025.

Meanwhile, Pernilla Nyberg was appointed as Senior Vice President and General Manager for the company in the UK and Ireland last week, replacing Sue Fox, who will retire next year.

Read TheIndustry.beauty's interview with Nicola Kilner, CEO and Co-founder of DECIEM, on her far from ordinary products and career.