Feb. 20--Chicago-based skincare company H2O Plus has a new CEO.
Joy Chen, most recently CEO of San Francisco-based natural beauty brand Yes To, has been appointed president and CEO of H2O Plus, succeeding former CEO Rick Ruffolo, the company announced Friday.
Ruffolo left H2O Plus in July after a year and half on the job to take the reins at consumer goods company CR Brands in Ohio, which is closer to his home, H2O said.
Chen leaves the carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes and other produce that infused the Yes To brand for the seaweed and marine plants behind H2O's skincare line.
Chen, who has been credited with transforming Yes To from an unprofitable startup to a fast-growing brand, told the publication Entrepreneur last year that Yes To's revenues had quadrupled, to $50 million, since she took the helm late in 2009.
Prior to Yes To, Chen was general manager of the laundry business unit at Clorox Company and prior to that served as the company's vice president of sales and marketing.
H2O Plus, founded in 1989, was acquired in 2011 by Japanese beauty care company Pola Orbis. It has been headquartered at a 90,000 square foot manufacturing facility at 845 W. Madison St. for 20 years but plans to move to a new location, which will be determined and overseen by Chen, the company said.
aelejalderuiz@tribpub.com
