Senior Vice President for P&G Salon Professional Open Lines John Perry announced his retirement at the end of August 2011, capping an extraordinary 33-year career in the salon industry, all of it with Clairol Professional.
Starting in the days when virtually every distributor mounted his own trade show, Perry worked with every major house, bringing Miss Clairol, the Beautiful Collection and later, Wella Color Charm, to stores and salons across the country.
A graduate of the University of Minnesota, Perry began representing Clairol in the Midwest in 1978. Finding that he connected with the people in the beauty industry, he then moved up steadily: to a territory in the East, a management role back in the Midwest, a regional sales position in the Southeast, and finally to Director of Sales for Clairol Professional in 1994.
When P&G Salon Professional acquired the Clairol brand from previous owner Bristol-Myers Squibb in 2001, Perry took on the Wella Color Charm line and established both brands as the open line powerhouses they are today.
Under his leadership, Clairol Professional has successfully reinvented and restaged its entire portfolio with the latest P&G color technology. This fall, Wella Color Charm will be restaged with all-new technology. “Our objective is to make sure every salon has the opportunity to experience and use these breakthrough products,” said Perry.
“John has been a leader and a mentor to our entire organization, both open and exclusive lines,” said P&G Salon Professional CEO Reuben Carranza. “He has built an organization that’s creative, agile and absolutely dedicated to the customer. It’s a magnificent legacy.”
“With top-notch account executives like Carla Cannon, Susan Delucia, MaryRose McLaren, Byrne Wrinn, Chris Wiza, Mike Jump, Donna Rumfelt, Sandra Roberts and Leigh Slagle, I’m confident that the Open Lines will continue to build on our success,” said Perry. “I’ll miss the beauty industry people—their passion, their commitment and their warmth—but I’m know I’m leaving the business with the best organization to support our customers.”
Perry and his wife Joslyn will be returning to their home base in Connecticut to be closer to Perry’s family including daughter Kirsten and son Reid.
Image courtesy of P&G Salon Professional.
