LVMH-owned Sephora has appointed Xia Ding to the role of managing director of Greater China, to lead the beauty retail giant’s next phase of growth in the region.
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Ding will be based in Shanghai and will report directly to Alia Gogi, president of Asia for Sephora.
In her new role, the chief executive will lead Sephora’s business in mainland China and Hong Kong, comprising 350 stores with two e-commerce websites, as well as digital platforms and apps.
“I am thrilled to join Sephora at a time when the prestige beauty market in China is on the cusp of its next phase of growth,” said Ding.
“Sephora’s allure lies in its powerful curation capabilities, strong culture anchored in purpose and DE&I, and an incredible ability to offer beauty enthusiasts an ever-evolving retail experience.”
With a strong background in leadership, Ding joins Sephora from Nike, where the executive spent five years serving as the vice president and general manager of e-commerce for Asia Pacific and Latin America at Nike.
Before that, she spent two decades at HanesBrands Inc., where she led the U.S. apparel firm’s expansion into China. In 2015, she was appointed the vice president of retail service at Nielsen in China and subsequently joined JD.com as the president of JD fashion.
“Xia Ding is a quintessential leader with a wealth of experience in running businesses, digital transformations, and strategic business development,” said Gogi.
“I am confident that her skills set, knowledge of brick & mortar retail, expertise in digital and e-commerce, as well as her proven track record in building and sustaining profitable businesses will take Sephora Greater China into its next phase of growth and success.”
Ding replaces former Greater China chief executive officer Maggie Chan, who stepped down from her role in January, after five years with the LVMH-owned company.
In March, Sephora announced plans to withdraw operations from the South Korea market, after arriving in the north Asian market just five years ago.