Full Name
Ali Kole
Job Title
Advisor, Board Director & Investor
Company Name
Meridien Partners
Speaker Bio
Ali Kole is a global board member and CEO with 30 years of experience growing consumer businesses from founder-led startups to $500M through disruptive innovation, brand building and digital excellence. Proven operator and advisor, Ali is a strategic expert across organic and acquired brand integration, effectively attracting, serving and retaining the aspirational luxury customer across health and wellness, travel, food and beverage and fashion.
Most recently Ali led Amazon’s multi billion dollar Premium Beauty business, where she secured and launched the world's leading beauty brands, deployed an elevated digital shopping experience, and led Amazon to a top three US premium beauty destination. She was initially recruited to Amazon to advise Retail and CPG enterprises on digital transformation, data strategy, and retail media networks.
Her prior experience includes 8 years at LVMH as SVP of Strategy & Business Development at Sephora, co-founding beauty brand incubator Kendo, and serving as CEO and board member of the Ole Henriksen skincare brand which she acquired for LVMH. She also created and led her own beauty consultancy, advising beauty and retail investors and brands on acquisitions, due diligence, and global expansion, including supporting a $15 Billion IPO.
Before pivoting into beauty, Ali spent 9 years at Microsoft in digital media and ecommerce, created and served on the board of two digital media JVs, and was a consultant with McKinsey and with Bain. She holds an MBA with honors from Harvard Business School and a BA with honors from Brown University.
Most recently Ali led Amazon’s multi billion dollar Premium Beauty business, where she secured and launched the world's leading beauty brands, deployed an elevated digital shopping experience, and led Amazon to a top three US premium beauty destination. She was initially recruited to Amazon to advise Retail and CPG enterprises on digital transformation, data strategy, and retail media networks.
Her prior experience includes 8 years at LVMH as SVP of Strategy & Business Development at Sephora, co-founding beauty brand incubator Kendo, and serving as CEO and board member of the Ole Henriksen skincare brand which she acquired for LVMH. She also created and led her own beauty consultancy, advising beauty and retail investors and brands on acquisitions, due diligence, and global expansion, including supporting a $15 Billion IPO.
Before pivoting into beauty, Ali spent 9 years at Microsoft in digital media and ecommerce, created and served on the board of two digital media JVs, and was a consultant with McKinsey and with Bain. She holds an MBA with honors from Harvard Business School and a BA with honors from Brown University.
Speaking At