Laurie Ann Goldman
Laurie Ann Goldman is a businessperson and investor with over 30 years of experience building global consumer product businesses and brands. She is best known for her time serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Spanx, Inc. from 2002–2014.[1] AdAge ranked her in its “50 Top Marketing executives” list in 2005.[2] In August 2018, Goldman joined the Board of New Avon LLC and, after six months, was asked to join as Avon CEO in January 2019.[3]
Laurie Ann Goldman | |
---|---|
Businessperson | |
Born | Clarksdale, Mississippi, U.S. |
Alma mater | University of Texas at Austin Tulane University |
Occupation | Businessperson |
Spouse(s) | Jonathan Goldman (married 1991-2018) |
Children | Three sons |
Early life and education
Goldman was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, the daughter of Donna Ruth (née Berke) and Julius Lazard Levy Jr. (1933). She was raised with her two brothers (Richard and Andrew) in New Orleans, Louisiana in a historic home built in 1890 on St. Charles Avenue.
Her father was a general surgeon, Chairman of the Board and professor of Anatomy at Tulane Medical School.[4] He currently is a Captain in the New Orleans Police Department and a philanthropist of Jewish causes including UJA where he was National Vice Chairman and the Institute for Southern Jewish Life. Goldman is Jewish on both her mother's and father's sides.
Goldman attended the Isidore Newman School in New Orleans, where she was on the cross country running team.
She then attended Newcomb College and the University of Texas, where she was a member of the sorority Alpha Epsilon Phi.[5] She attended the Moody School of Communications and graduated with honors.[6] Her first job was as a special events coordinator for Maison Blanche.
Career
R.H. Macy's
Goldman began her career at R.H. Macy & Co. where she worked in the advertising department to launch new brands, execute media relations campaigns and plan store events.[7]
The Coca-Cola Company
Goldman served for 10 years at The Coca-Cola Company in leading marketing roles including head of the worldwide licensing division for 54 countries.[8] During this time, she also worked on branding Coca-Cola for three different Olympics including the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.[9]
SPANX, Inc.
Laurie Ann Goldman became the CEO of SPANX in 2002.[10] SPANX was reported by Forbes as a billion dollar company in 2012.[11] She had previously advised founder Sara Blakely on supply side management until she was named CEO. Under Goldman's leadership, SPANX grew from a startup to a global omni-channel retailer with over 300 products and 4 brands in separate channels of distribution.[12] As CEO, Goldman worked to bring SPANX products to more than 11,500 locations across the globe including standalone SPANX stores, and on the runway at New York Fashion Week.[13] Business Insider named Goldman one of “The Sexiest CEO Alive".[14] She exited the position in 2014.[15]
Avon
In August 2018, Goldman joined the board[16] of New Avon, which, at that time, was owned by Cerberus Capital Management,[17] and took over as their CEO in January 2019.[18] She transitioned into that position after founding her own investing and advisory firm, LA Ventures. It was announced in April 2019, that New Avon is to be acquired by LG.[19]
Corporate Boards and investing
Goldman currently is a Board Director for Guess? Inc.,[20] ServiceMaster Global Holdings Inc. (NYSE: SERV),[21] and Joe & The Juice.[22] Previously, she served on the Boards of Francesca's Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: FRAN),[23] Enviroscent, and Insightpool.[24] Goldman is also an investor in the ThirdLove.[25]
Philanthropy and interests
Goldman is on the board of the Carter Center,[26] Anti-Defamation League,[27] and Atlanta Committee For Progress.[28] She is also involved in City Meals, Women Corporate Directors, Committee of 200,[29] and Chief Executives Organization.
She was previously on the boards of the American Jewish Committee,[30] the Jewish Federation,[5] and Pace Academy[31]
Keynote speaker
Goldman is now sought after as a professional speaker by organizations, corporations, and schools including Commonwealth Institute,[32] Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit,[33] Girl Scouts of the USA,[34] Tulane Business Forum.[35][36] In June 2018, she spoke at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on collecting objects of art and jewelry at the "Women with a Critical Eye" event.
Accolades
Goldman received the National Human Relations and Leadership Award presented by the American Jewish Committee (AJC).[37] She received the Human Relations award along with Madeleine Albright in New York City with David Harris presenting.
She also ran the Olympic torch through the streets of Atlanta during the 1996 Olympics.[38]
Goldman has been listed as one of AdAge's Top 50 Marking executives and was a Jewish Women International (JWI) Honoree.[2][39]
References
- Colleen Leahey (February 11, 2014). "SPANX CEO out after building the mega-brand". CNNMoney. Archived from the original on April 14, 2014. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
- Stephanie Thompson (November 7, 2005). "Spanx". Advertising Age.
- "Laurie Ann Goldman in as CEO at New Avon LLC" Cosmetic Design. Retrieved 2019-05-06.
- "Alumnus Volunteer Award 2012" Tulane Alumni Association. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- Susan Josephs. "Transforming Spanx into a Multimillion-Dollar Business". Jewish Woman. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
- "Jonathan and Laurie Ann Goldman Endowed Excellence Fund in Business and Communication". University of Texas at Austin. May 3, 2012.
- Katherine Boccaccio (April 19, 2013). "Francesca's names PetSmart, Spanx execs to board". Chain Store Age.
- Carla Caldwell (February 13, 2014). "Spanx CEO steps down". Atlanta Business Chronicle.
- Clare O'Connor (April 2, 2012). "Top Five Startup Tips From Spanx Billionaire Sara Blakely". Forbes.
- "Women in Business: Laurie Ann Goldman, Leading Retailing Executive" Huffington Post. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- "Undercover Billionaire: Sara Blakely Joins The Rich List Thanks To Spanx" Forbes. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
- Melissa Stanger and Melia Robinson (September 26, 2013). "The Sexiest CEOs Alive!". Business Insider.
- Leanne Italie (February 5, 2014). "Models in Spanx kick off New York Fashion Week". Yahoo News.
- "The Sexiest CEOs Alive!" Business Insider. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
- "Spanx CEO Laurie Ann Goldman Exits" WWD. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
- "New Avon LLC Appoints Laurie Ann Goldman to Board of Managers" Avon. Retrieved 2019-05-06.
- "Avon Finally Finds An Investor In Cerberus Capital With A $605 Million Deal" Forbes. Retrieved 2019-05-14.
- "Power Moves" The Business of Fashion. Retrieved 2019-05-06.
- "LG Household & Health Care Takes over Avon's Business in U.S. and Canada" Business Korea. Retrieved 2019-05-06.
- "Former Spanx CEO Laurie Ann Goldman joins Guess? Inc. board" BizWomen. Retrieved 2019-05-06.
- "laurie-goldman". www.servicemaster.com. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
- "Annual Report 2016" Joe & The Juice Holding.
- "Francesca's Holdings Corporation Appoints Laurie Ann Goldman and Joseph O'Leary to Its Board of Directors". Francesca's. April 18, 2013.
- "Ex-Spanx CEO Laurie Ann Goldman joins Insightpool board" Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- "The Former CEO Of Victoria's Secret Is Betting On ThirdLove, Heidi Zak's Tech-Enabled Lingerie Company" Forbes. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- "Carter Center Appoints New Members to Board of Councilors". Carter Center. June 21, 2010.
- "Honoring Champions of Social Justice". Cvent. November 19, 2013.
- "2014 Atlanta Committee for Progress Board of Directors". Atlanta Committee for Progress. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
- "FACES of the South: Laurie Ann Goldman, CEO of Spanx". StyleBlueprint. July 28, 2013.
- "Jewish Federation brings Spanx exec for women-only event". The American Israelite. Archived from the original on April 14, 2014. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
- "Campaign Leadership". Pace Academy. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
- "Former Spanx CEO's career advice: Be yourself" Miami Herald. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- "Ex-Spanx CEO likes not knowing all the answers" Fortune. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- " NFocus Nashville. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- "35th Annual Tulane Business Forum" Business New Orleans. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- "8 lessons former Spanx CEO learned while leading a hosiery revolution" The Times-Picayune. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- "AJC Annual Report 2012". American Jewish Committee. January 2013.
- "Spanx CEO, Buckhead Resident Laurie Ann Goldman to Serve as Keynote Speaker at MAX Awards". Buckhead Patch. February 14, 2013.
- Ilene Schneider (February 2013). "Balance of Power". Orange County Jewish Life. Archived from the original on 2014-04-14. Retrieved 2014-04-14.