Ouai appoints Susan Kim as CEO to ‘help scale the business globally’

By Alessandro Carrara | Published: 15-May-2026

Kim joins hairstylist Jen Atkin’s hair care business from sun, skin and body care brand Kopari Beauty, with the beauty executive having also served at giants L'Oréal and Benefit Cosmetics

Ouai, celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin’s hair care brand, has appointed Susan Kim as CEO.

Kim succeeds Colin Walsh, who left the business to join millennial-pink beauty company Glossier as CEO in September 2025. 

Ouai, founded in February 2016, claimed this new C-suite appointment marks a “key milestone for the brand as it enters its next era of growth and expansion”.


Have you launched an innovative product, brand or campaign in the past 12 months? Then you could be in with a chance of winning at this year's new and improved Pure Beauty Awards 2026. Click here for more information.


Kim joins the business from sun, skin, and body care brand Kopari Beauty, where she served as CEO and is said to have led the brand through a period of significant growth.

She also spent two years as Senior VP, Marketing & Digital, at Huda Kattan’s beauty brand Huda Beauty, and before this spent seven years at make-up business Benefit Cosmetics, including roles as Senior VP, US, and VP, Global Strategic Marketing.

Plus, Kim also worked as Senior Marketing Manager at French beauty giant L'Oréal between 2010 and 2011.

“After years of strong momentum and continued growth across hair, body and fragrance, Ouai is bringing on new leadership to help scale the business globally, deepen retail partnerships and accelerate product innovation,” Ouai said in a company statement. 

“At Ouai, Kim builds on that momentum, leaning into the brand’s unique DNA, digital-first heritage and strong community while helping drive its next phase of expansion.”

Conversely, Glossier recently named Nicole Solórzano CMO as the US cosmetics company undergoes a new strategic overhaul led by Walsh.

Related content: 

Trending Articles

  1. You need to be a subscriber to read this article.
    Click here to find out more.
  2. You need to be a subscriber to read this article.
    Click here to find out more.
  3. You need to be a subscriber to read this article.
    Click here to find out more.

You may also like