Ros Simmons
Encyclopedia
Ros Simmons is a British businesswoman. She was the CEO
of Vie at Home
, a company for which she worked since it was launched in 1997, starting out as Marketing Director. In late 2008, Simmons successfully led a management buyout
of the company, formerly known as Virgin Vie At Home, from Virgin Group
. In December 2010, the company was sold to Helmut Spikker.
, Simmons joined The Body Shop
. During her seven years with the company, she held the position of Brand Manager with global responsibility for the Colour Cosmetics division.
When she joined The Virgin Cosmetics Company as one of the founding directors she was given the task of growing Virgin Vie at Home into the UK’s leading cosmetics party plan
business as well as developing the cosmetic
and skin care product ranges.
In January 2009, Simmons led a management buy-out of Virgin Vie at Home with her business partner Ratan Daryani. In order to take control of the company the team purchased the shares for £1 each. Further to this the Virgin Group wrote off £21m worth of loans and paid the new enterprise £7m worth of 'Brand Protection' payment, so that if the company failed, the Virgin Brand would not be endangered.
In late 2009, Simmons closed the final Effective Cosmetics (Previously Virgin Cosmetics) stores, putting the chain into Administration.
In 2010, Simmons was nominated for a Real Woman Award in the Retail & Consumer Section.
In December 2010, VIE was sold to Helmut Spikker for an undisclosed sum.
In May 2011, Simmons resigned from the Board of Directors of VIE.
. Her hobbies include gardening
, interior design
and watching cricket
.
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of Vie at Home
Vie at Home
Vie at Home , previously known as The Virgin Cosmetics Company and Virgin Vie At Home, was relaunched in early 2009 under the leadership of original founders Ros Simmons and Ratan Daryani, following a management buy out from the Virgin Group. A German company Network World Alliance, led by founder...
, a company for which she worked since it was launched in 1997, starting out as Marketing Director. In late 2008, Simmons successfully led a management buyout
Management buyout
A management buyout is a form of acquisition where a company's existing managers acquire a large part or all of the company.- Overview :Management buyouts are similar in all major legal aspects to any other acquisition of a company...
of the company, formerly known as Virgin Vie At Home, from Virgin Group
Virgin Group
Virgin Group Limited is a British branded venture capital conglomerate organisation founded by business tycoon Richard Branson. The core business areas are travel, entertainment and lifestyle. Virgin Group's date of incorporation is listed as 1989 by Companies House, who class it as a holding...
. In December 2010, the company was sold to Helmut Spikker.
Background
After her training at the London College of FashionLondon College of Fashion
London College of Fashion is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London, offering undergraduate, postgraduate, short courses and business-training in fashion, make-up, beauty-therapy and lifestyle industries...
, Simmons joined The Body Shop
The Body Shop
The Body Shop International plc, known as The Body Shop, has 2,400 stores in 61 countries, and is the second largest cosmetic franchise in the world, following O Boticario, a Brazilian company...
. During her seven years with the company, she held the position of Brand Manager with global responsibility for the Colour Cosmetics division.
When she joined The Virgin Cosmetics Company as one of the founding directors she was given the task of growing Virgin Vie at Home into the UK’s leading cosmetics party plan
Party plan
The party plan is a method of marketing products by hosting what is presented as a social event at which products will be offered for sale. It is a form of direct selling...
business as well as developing the cosmetic
Cosmetics
Cosmetics are substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body. Cosmetics include skin-care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, towelettes, permanent waves, colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays and...
and skin care product ranges.
In January 2009, Simmons led a management buy-out of Virgin Vie at Home with her business partner Ratan Daryani. In order to take control of the company the team purchased the shares for £1 each. Further to this the Virgin Group wrote off £21m worth of loans and paid the new enterprise £7m worth of 'Brand Protection' payment, so that if the company failed, the Virgin Brand would not be endangered.
In late 2009, Simmons closed the final Effective Cosmetics (Previously Virgin Cosmetics) stores, putting the chain into Administration.
In 2010, Simmons was nominated for a Real Woman Award in the Retail & Consumer Section.
In December 2010, VIE was sold to Helmut Spikker for an undisclosed sum.
In May 2011, Simmons resigned from the Board of Directors of VIE.
Personal background
Simmons lives with her husband Andy in West SussexWest Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
. Her hobbies include gardening
Gardening
Gardening is the practice of growing and cultivating plants. Ornamental plants are normally grown for their flowers, foliage, or overall appearance; useful plants are grown for consumption , for their dyes, or for medicinal or cosmetic use...
, interior design
Interior design
Interior design describes a group of various yet related projects that involve turning an interior space into an effective setting for the range of human activities are to take place there. An interior designer is someone who conducts such projects...
and watching cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
.