The rising stars and industry icons shaping Britain’s beauty scene

The British beauty landscape is evolving faster than ever, led by founders, C-suite leaders, creatives, investors, and innovators who are reshaping the industry.

At the 24th annual CEW Achiever Awards last week, several standout individuals were recognised for the impact they are making across sustainability, technology, artistry, retail, and entrepreneurship - painting a picture of where beauty is heading.

A pioneer in sustainable beauty, Anabel Kindersley, CEO and co-owner of Neal’s Yard Remedies, was recognised for her "visionary leadership" spanning ethical sourcing and sustainable innovation.

She was awarded alongside Jamie Genevieve, founder of VIEVE, as well as makeup artist and brand founder Ruby Hammer MBE, and Anna Ohlsson-Baskerville, Partner at Unilever Ventures.

Ajay Sethi, Chief Executive Officer of Tweezerman UK, was another notable leader to be recognised. Since founding the brand in 2004, he has helped shape the sector through his contributions, earning him the CEW UK Special Industry award last week.

Meanwhile, Andy Lightfoot, Chief Executive Officer of Space NK, was recognised for his "outstanding leadership and transformative impact across retail and beauty". His career reflects a long-term focus on developments in beauty retail, with CEW UK highlighting his role as a notable figure in the industry.

Elsewhere, James Read was selected by members for recognition at the awards. The tanning expert has helped bring sunless tanning into the global spotlight. In 2024, he launched his new brand, Self Glow, which also won at TheIndustry.beauty Awards this year.

Another one to watch is Glow For It founder Daisy Kelly, a notable emerging figure in the industry. Since launching her brand in 2020, she has built a community of more than 200,000 people, sold over 230,000 lash serums, and now takes home the Young Achiever Award from the CEW Achiever Awards.

This year, CEW UK also presented a special Posthumous Icon Award to the late Leonard A. Lauder, recognising his "extraordinary contribution to the global beauty industry and his longstanding support of CEW UK".