"In beauty, as with any industry, it’s about motivating people and building trust. I focus on empowering my team, encouraging them to think for themselves, and giving them the confidence to make decisions. 

I want everyone to feel like they have ownership and that they’re part of something."

With a career that spans three decades in fashion, Jane made the leap into beauty starting as a freelancer with Perricone MD in early 2020. Since then, she's stepped into the role of General Manager for the brand’s international business - overseeing territories outside the US. We caught up with Jane to hear more about her journey as a leader, and what’s next for Perricone MD on a global scale.

Can you tell us a bit about your role, your team and how long you’ve been at THG and with Perricone MD. 

I’ve officially been with Perricone MD for five years this July, though I started with the brand in February 2020 on a freelance basis – right before the pandemic hit. I’m General Manager for the international side of the business, which covers majority of the territories outside of America. 

I have a team of 19 in total, with four key leaders: Katie Meakin, Heads of Sales; Helena Walsh, Head of Brand; Jess Oliver, Head of Broadcast and Georgia Tobiasen Senior Ecommerce Mgr. The role itself is quite diverse - I can be very hands-on, from managing orders with partners to leading strategic initiatives. I’ve built a team that’s willing to roll up their sleeves, regardless of seniority. Everyone plays a part, and I think that’s one of reasons for our success. 

How has the transition into THG changed things compared to before the acquisition? 

Before the acquisition, we were a very small team working out of a small office on Berners Street in London. Now, being part of THG, it’s a much bigger operation with support functions across Supply Operations, Credit Control, Supply & Demand and Finance. It’s like moving from a village to a city - but one where everyone still knows each other. While the pace can be slower due to the scale and cross-functional dependencies, the upside is huge. THG offers major buying power and strong brand leverage. When we introduce ourselves as part of THG, doors open. 

What drew you to the beauty industry after a long career in fashion? 

I spent 30 years in fashion before making the switch. Beauty was always an area I had an affinity with. Honestly, I hadn’t heard of Perricone MD before the role came up, as it’s quite niche in the UK. But once I started learning about it, I was fascinated. 

Dr. Perricone was a pioneer. Long before everyone was talking about peptides or the connection between diet and skin health, he was promoting a holistic approach to beauty. That philosophy still underpins everything we do today. The Perricone MD Three tier philosophy is all about ; anti –inflammatory diet, supplements & topical skincare.  

What are some key projects you’ve worked on at Perricone MD? 

Last year, we had two big initiatives the development of a global store concept and a reworking of our amenities offering and partnerships.  

 The brand lacked a clear visual identity across our retail partners, so the team and I worked with a UK based agency, Design 4 Retail, to create a global store concept.  We delivered it within eight months and within budget, launching it first with John Lewis in the UK. The US team have recently created a pop-up for one of their key Partners Ulta Beauty, which has been a real success. 

The second big project was revamping our amenities offer as well as look and feel. We partnered with the Vanity Group to upgrade our offering and created two distinct ranges: one featuring Vitamin C and another centred on our newer Chia Oil product, including a turn-down service pack which secured a partnership with the five-star Regent Hotel & resorts part of InterContinental Hotel group (IHG). And most recently we confirmed our partnership with United Airlines in the US providing Business Class kits both inflight and in global lounges. This is over 2m kits per annum! This will support one of our global objectives to improve brand awareness.  

How has Perricone MD been focusing on how the brand shows up in gifting and events? 

We’ve pivoted our gifting strategy to not only focus on gift sets but on key products and introduced branded GWPs (Gifts with Purchase). Instead of just offering product, we’re now including branded tools like Gua Shas, cosmetic mirrors, or tote bags. They enhance the premium feel of the brand and reinforce our identity. 

We’ve also partnered with THG Experience- King Street Townhouse offering a Perricone MD signature facial, and Instagram foodie influencer /certified nutritionist and author Emily English – whose values really align with the brand. 2025 we will see our partnership go from strength to strength, starting with our first NPD (New Product Development) for 2025, Triple Retinol on 21^st May. 

One standout event we did in 2024 was at the start of relationship with Emily, where we hosted an Influencer event at the Michelin-starred Trinity restaurant in Clapham. Our Education Mgr. Georgina Henry lead the event with Emily demonstrating some of her recipes. We gifted branded pestle and mortars – tying into our logo – and included freshly made pesto from the demonstration.  The feedback was amazing, and we acquired new customers following the Influencers posts. The Perricone MD brand team did a great job. 

 What have been some of the challenges along the way, and how have you overcome them? 

Both projects I mentioned earlier had challenges with the global brand and sales teams having multiple requests, all wanted their requests to be a priority, and we only had a small budget! But by working collaboratively, listening and putting the customer journey first we were able to deliver an omni- channel concept. 

 How did you transition into leadership, and what’s your approach? 

I started my career in retail at 18yrs, straight out of school, on to a management training scheme at Topshop, back when it was part of the Burton Group. Within three months, I was deputy manager of a small branch. So, I stepped into leadership quite early. 

I lead with integrity and empathy - those are my core values. I think your leadership style comes with experience. It’s about setting people up for success, giving them space to try things, make mistakes, and grow. 

One of my mantras is: “Nothing’s forever - give it a go.” Mistakes happen, but it’s how you handle them that matters. Put your hand up, own it, and we move on. 

 How do you find leading in the beauty industry specifically? 

In beauty, as with any industry, it’s about motivating people and building trust. I focus on empowering my team, encouraging them to think for themselves, and giving them the confidence to make decisions. I want everyone to feel like they have ownership and that they’re part of something. 

Collaboration is vital – especially at THG as its one of our core values. For example, the trading channels don’t operate in silo. If one channel slows down, another picks up. That collective ambition keeps us moving forward and achieving our brand sales and profit targets. 

 What are your hopes or vision for Perricone MD in 2025? 

Theres a couple of big priorities. Our partnership with Emily English, this will support driving brand awareness. 

Expanding into new markets, particularly the Middle East and India. We’ve found an amazing partner in India, Beauty Concept (Bahety Group) and we are launching in May. 

 And I am keen for our number 1 B2B account to join the one million club! Ultimately, it’s about growing the brand with the right partners and maintaining the authenticity and integrity that Perricone MD stands for. We’re not here to follow trends. Were a premium brand that I want to see grow globally and stand the test of time.