Clean beauty brand, Kopari, best known for being one of the first companies to successfully utilize coconut oil in its formulas, has named Susan J. Kim as its new CEO, effective immediately.  Susan, most recently of Huda Beauty, replaces former CEO and co-founder, Bryce Goldman.

Launched as an early stage direct-to-consumer clean beauty brand in 2015, Kopari’s growth over the past five years is attributed to its expertise in maximizing its digital and social platforms to garner brand awareness and to build a loyal cult following. In its first year of business, Kopari gained the interest of Sephora, Ulta Beauty and Nordstrom. Today it is sold in more than 2,000 stores in the U.S. and internationally.

Susan looks to immediately apply her expertise to evolve Kopari’s omnichannel approach to fuel organic growth.

“I have been impressed by Kopari’s established reputation as a direct-to-consumer darling for years. The brand’s digital founding, rich DNA rooted in coconut, and exceptional products, uniquely positions Kopari for marked growth within the clean and natural beauty space, which is lock-step with what consumers want and need in today’s world. It is such a joy to join this team of passionate creators and digitally-native leaders. Together, we will continue to grow the brand and solidify our position in the clean and natural beauty category,” said Susan, who most recently served as Senior Vice President of Marketing & Digital & Asia at Huda Beauty overseeing global digital and social, building global e-commerce, operating U.S. integrated marketing, and building the Asia business. Prior to Huda beauty Susan spent nine years at Benefit Cosmetics developing and overseeing digital and strategic plans.

Susan said she sees an immediate opportunity at Kopari “to grow organic awareness and reach, and thus, product trial. I’ve always had a marketing background, approaching long-range strategic planning with a consumer-first perspective, especially as it relates to digital and how consumers experience a brand digitally. My experience in growing direct-to-consumer brands, while managing brands’ omnichannel approach to fuel organic growth, fits seamlessly into the founders’ vision for the next phase of Kopari.”

Bryce Goldman will stay on as Kopari’s co-founder.

In July 2019, Kopari closed a $20 million round of funding from notable investment partners including the Growth Fund of L Catterton, Unilever Ventures and San Diego-based University Growth Fund, among other investors. L Catterton previously invested in Kopari in January 2017, alongside celebrity investors Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Jared Leto and Karlie Kloss.