NEW YORK, USA // In July 2014, Catherine Walsh was appointed to the newly created position of Chief Communications Officer of Coty Inc. In her new position, Walsh is responsible for all communications for the company including brand public relations, media, and the newly created Center for Digital Competency. Her role also continues to encompass corporate communications, where she is charged with promoting Coty’s corporate image, implementing effective financial communication, piloting CSR initiatives, and leading internal communications.
Previously at Coty, Walsh served as the visionary behind the company’s elite designer and celebrity fragrance portfolio and has helped architect Coty evolution as an industry trailblazer for the past decade. She has earned a reputation as a game changer for her foresight in predicting “the next big thing” in the category, and for her fresh and innovative ideas.
Her signing of Jennifer Lopez and the blockbuster 2002 launch of Glow by JLo effectively built the celebrity fragrance category. The brand has since generated over $2B in sales and led to a myriad of other celebrity launches under Walsh’s guidance, including successful partnerships with Madonna, Sarah Jessica Parker and Gwen Stefani.
When she signed Balenciaga in 2008, it was Coty Prestige’s first foray into high fashion, it helped build the company’s roster of coveted designer brands and solidified her reputation for having a keen understanding of fashion brands and how to translate them to fragrance.
Catherine’s achievements extend beyond the fragrance category, and include having led the Lancaster skin and sun-care brand, where she introduced its 365 line, one of the brand’s best-selling products. She also helped establish a strong platform for the color category within Coty Prestige with the 2012 global launch of ck one color cosmetics.
As senior vice president of Coty Prestige she oversaw an enviable portfolio of globally successful and relevant brands, including Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs, Jennifer Lopez, Vera Wang and Balenciaga. Year after year, her brands are highly celebrated, receiving accolades from countless industry and editorial organizations. Her relationships with designers and celebrities, her passion for the art of design and her sharp consumer insight produce products that are beloved throughout the world.