Vasiliki Petrou has spent her 28-year career on an upward trajectory, rising through the ranks of the world’s most prestigious corporate beauty companies. Now, in her role as Chief Executive Officer of Unilever Prestige, a division that was her vision, she is dedicated to ensuring the brands she has bought into the group are given the support and platform to thrive.

Born in Greece, Ms. Petrou started her career at Procter & Gamble (P&G), where she worked in a variety of marketing and general management positions across innovation, hair care, and color cosmetics. Next, she joined Unilever as Vice President of Personal Care, before assuming her current role. Prestige has enjoyed a unique independent set up within Unilever and has reached an estimated €2.1B in retail sales. The division is home to ten distinguished brands, each handpicked by Ms. Petrou: Dermalogica, Paula’s Choice, Tatcha, Hourglass, Living Proof, K18, Murad, REN, Kate Somerville, and Garancia, all operating independently within the context of a larger corporate framework. The division is trying to pave a new model in how they manage companies, respecting the brand’s authentic DNA and the founders they partner with and creating new business models that delight the consumer.

Credited as being a true visionary, Ms. Petrou also led the creation of the Unilever Pitch Innovation Centres and has pioneered a new world culture within Unilever Prestige known for mental and physical wellbeing, diversity, and female empowerment. She is also Chair of Cosmetic Executive Women.

Ms. Petrou was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in American literature and communications at University of Texas at Austin. She also earned a master of business administration at Columbia Business School.