Elemis believed to be weighing potential sale following co-founder’s exit

British skincare brand Elemis is understood to be weighing a potential sale, coming shortly after co-founder Oriele Frank’s exit last week.

A well-placed source told TheIndustry.beauty that the process is expected to begin in March.

Elemis is currently owned by L’Occitane Group, which acquired the premium brand in 2019 from Steiner Leisure for $900 million.

The potential sale would not be L’Occitane’s first recent divestment in the skincare space, following its ownership transition of Grown Alchemist in 2024.

It comes after the group reported annual sales of €2.8 billion in its first financial results since going private, representing the year ending 31 March 2025. The group’s portfolio mix was led by L’Occitane en Provence, which accounted for 48.4% of total sales. Sol de Janeiro contributed 31.6%, while Elemis made up 10.1% of the company’s revenue.

The news also comes amid significant leadership changes at Elemis.

Oriele Frank, also Chief Product & Sustainability Officer, last week announced her departure after 33 years, describing it as "time for a new chapter".

Meanwhile, Susan Harvey, General Manager for Elemis UK, left the company after nearly 14 years last year.

In November, co-founder Noella Gabriel was appointed CEO, succeeding fellow co-founder Séan Harrington, who stepped down from operational leadership.

The brand also named Victoria Ritchie as its new UK Commercial Director last month.

Founded by entrepreneur Linda Steiner, Elemis was built on a vision of skincare that is as close to nature as possible. Steiner was joined by a founding team - including Frank, Gabriel, and Harrington - whose expertise helped shape the brand’s identity and global expansion.

Today, Elemis continues to focus on skin longevity, offering consumers products and knowledge that support collagen health and overall skin wellness. Bestsellers include its hero Pro-Collagen range, which has just expanded with a new Hydrating Cleansing Mousse.

Industry observers will be closely monitoring how this new development could influence the company’s strategic direction, market positioning, and prospects for future growth.

Elemis declined to comment.