Vasiliki Petrou has spent her 29-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, she is dedicated to ensuring the brands she has bought into the group are given the support and platform to thrive.
 
After graduating from university, Ms. Petrou joined Procter & Gamble (P&G), where she worked in a variety of marketing and general management positions across innovation, haircare, and color cosmetics. After P&G, she joined Unilever as Vice President of its Personal Care department, before assuming her current role in 2014 – a division that was her vision. This, she says, is the proudest moment of her career to date. Prestige has enjoyed a unique independent set up within Unilever and has now reached an estimated €2.1 billion in retail sales. The division is home to nine distinguished brands each handpicked by Ms. Petrou: Dermalogica, Murad, Kate Somerville, Garancia, Tatcha, Living Proof, Ren, Hourglass Cosmetics, and Paula’s Choice, all operating independently within the context of a larger corporate framework. She gives each brand’s chief executive officer the platform needed to push their brand’s purpose into world-leading firsts. She has also pioneered a new world culture within Unilever Prestige known for mental and physical wellbeing, diversity, and female empowerment.
 
Ms. Petrou is Chair of Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) and was recognized by the Kellogg Foundation for outstanding Women’s Leadership.
 
She 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 an M.B.A. in finance and marketing at Columbia Business School.