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Andrea JungPresident and CEO of Avon Products Inc.
Country:
 USA |
Content:
The Biography of Andrea Jung
Andrea Jung is the president and CEO of Avon Products Inc., one of the most prominent companies in the beauty and skincare industry. She was appointed as the CEO of Avon in November 1999 and had been a member of the board of directors since January 1998. Jung first joined Avon in January 1994 as the president of the product marketing group in the United States. In July 1996, she was named president and chief marketing officer, and in the same year, she was named Brandweek Magazine's Marketer of the Year. In March 1997, she was promoted to the position of executive vice president and president of the company, chief marketing officer, and manager of new business ventures. In this role, she was responsible for the strategic planning of the company, research and development, risk management, partnership collaborations, and marketing activities.
Jung embraces her position in the company as one of the few female leaders of a major corporation. She once said in an interview with Dane Kennedy of The New York Times, "I take great pride in my heritage and, of course, my gender. I think it's an advantage to be a unique woman leading the fate of a 250-company corporation." In 1997, when Jung was close to the top position, the former CEO of the company announced plans to retire. She and two or three other female executives were on the list of candidates for the top position. However, the company expanded its list and chose former CEO of Duracell, Charles Perrin, as vice chairman and CEO, preparing him for the top position. He assumed the role of CEO in May 1999 but resigned less than six months later, and Jung succeeded him.
Early Life and Education
Andrea Jung was born in Toronto, Ontario. Her mother, originally from Shanghai, was a chemist-turned-pianist, and her father, originally from Hong Kong, worked at an architectural firm and also taught at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Jung grew up in Wellesley, Massachusetts. As the child of Chinese immigrants, she attended Princeton University and graduated with honors. She began her career at Bloomingdale's and later worked at the department store chain I. Magnin, rising to the position of senior vice president and chief merchandising officer at the company's central office in San Francisco. She later joined Neiman Marcus, where she became a senior vice president at the age of only 32, overseeing women's apparel, cosmetics, and accessories departments. Four years later, she left the company. Prior to her work at Avon, Jung worked as an external consultant.
Personal Life and Philanthropy
Andrea Jung married Bloomingdale's executive Michael Gould. Jung is driven by her desire for change. Even in her approach to Avon, she came specifically for this reason: "There's a mission in my work: to empower women, teach them to run their own businesses, and provide the economic means to support that education." At the end of the day, she believes that desire will lead to results.
