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By Sonal Gandhi, Chief Content Officer
The Lead
The beauty industry is seeing major M&A and brand launches, while Gap partners with Gemini.
Learn how life lessons from competitive sports informs the leadership style of Elizabeth Drori from Kizik.
Image via: Glossy
Pamela Anderson fronts Aerie’s anti-AI push as it bans generated bodies
The beauty sector surges with M&A activity, highlighted by Henkel‘s $1.4 billion acquisition of Olaplex, Advent International acquiring Salt & Stone, and reported advanced merger talks between Estée Lauder and Puig. Separately, TikTok personality Alix Earle launched her new science-focused skincare line, Reale Actives, backed by Imaginary Ventures. (Business of Fashion)
Gap is the first major fashion company to integrate instant checkout within Google’s Gemini AI, allowing shoppers to buy Gap products directly through the platform. This partnership gives Gap a competitive edge in retail, as its CTO Sven Gerjets noted that Gemini offers retailers more control over the shopping experience than OpenAI’s ChatGPT. (CNBC)
Gap Inc. is testing Bold Metrics‘ “Agentic Sizing Protocol,” an AI tool that aims to reduce returns and increase sales conversion by removing sizing uncertainty. The protocol uses natural conversation to create a shopper’s “digital twin” for personalized sizing. (WWD)
Aerie introduced the “100% Aerie Real” pledge in October 2025, expanding on its 2014 promise to avoid retouching. This new commitment vows never to use AI-generated people or bodies in its marketing. The initiative is underscored by a campaign featuring Pamela Anderson that contrasted real and AI images. (Glossy)
TikTok Shop is rapidly becoming a major retail platform, attracting brands like Ulta Beauty, Sally Beauty, and PepsiCo. Large companies are now hiring dedicated TikTok Shop managers, positioning the platform as a direct competitor to Amazon by effectively converting content viewing into significant purchases. (Modern Retail)
Jordan Bowry (D60 NEXT ‘25) joined Burberry as their Director of Customer Strategy & CRM from Michael Kors.
Margo Oshry (D60 NEXT ‘25) was promoted from Director to VP of Talent & Influencer Marketing – Sports & Lifestyle at Authentic.
Fabian Brunner (D60 NEXT ‘25) joined Crocs as Sr. Director, Digital Marketing & Marketplaces from HEYDUDE.
Have exciting career moves? Email contact@the-lead.co
Sephora partnered with Talon.One to reinvent its Beauty Insider program with gamified, personalized rewards. By introducing interactive challenges that go beyond purchases, the brand drove deeper engagement and emotional loyalty. The payoff: participation far exceeded expectations and helped generate over 2 million new member signups.
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In our latest Lessons in Leadership, Kizik CMO, Elizabeth Drori, shares how being a competitive ice skater in childhood provided her with a lot of value life lessons including doing your personal best even when you cannot control the outcome, being resilient and working together as a well synchronized team. erself with the right people.
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