Melis del Rey has recently been appointed as the chief executive officer and board director of Supergoop, a brand known for its innovative approach to sun protection. Widely recognized for her transformative role at Amazon, where she helped elevate its prestige beauty offerings, del Rey’s track record suggests she will be instrumental in steering Supergoop into a new era of growth. Moving from Seattle to New York, she begins her new position on December 8. Gregory Polcer, who has temporarily held the CEO role since May, will support del Rey in her transition and remains a vital part of the company’s board.
Edgar Huber, the chairman of Supergoop’s board, praised del Rey as a dynamic leader whose expertise in brand development and retail partnerships aligns perfectly with Supergoop’s vision. He emphasized her ability to enhance customer experiences through innovation, asserting that her leadership is timely as the brand looks to expand its reach. Del Rey brings extensive experience in beauty and e-commerce, positioning her uniquely to capitalize on the growing consumer interest in daily sun protection.
Reflecting on her long-standing admiration for Supergoop, del Rey expressed her excitement about stepping into a role that marries purpose with consumer needs. She first encountered the brand in 2019 while visiting the UK, noting its powerful presence in the U.S. landscape, especially after launching groundbreaking products like the Unseen Sunscreen. For del Rey, Supergoop’s mission to promote daily SPF usage represents a significant opportunity to effect change not only in consumer behaviors but also in global health perspectives regarding skin care.
Founded by Holly Thaggard in 2005, Supergoop has consistently positioned itself at the forefront of the beauty industry’s sun protection sector. The company gained momentum through popular products like Glow Screen and Play Everyday Lotion, making sun safety a stylish and essential step in many beauty routines. After a significant investment from Blackstone in 2021, the brand has continued to evolve, albeit with some leadership changes. Del Rey’s arrival comes at a strategic moment, potentially stabilizing the brand and fostering further innovation.
In her former role at Amazon, del Rey was pivotal in bringing prestigious beauty brands onto the platform, which had long been a challenge. Under her stewardship, well-known labels like Clinique have found a marketplace on Amazon, changing perceptions about the platform. Del Rey noted how Amazon pursued technique-based storytelling to showcase brands such as Clinique, enhancing the shopping experience through innovative features like skin analysis tools. Her vision for Supergoop includes similar advancements, emphasizing consumer-oriented innovation to expand access to sun care products.
Del Rey’s academic background as an engineer informs her approach to product development and customer engagement. With a Ph.D. in new product development and a decade of experience at Procter & Gamble, she has developed a keen understanding of both the technical and emotional aspects that appeal to consumers. This foundation will serve her well at Supergoop, where her leadership is anticipated to not only strengthen the brand’s market position but also advocate for broader adoption of sunscreen usage globally, reinforcing the company’s commitment to skin health.
