The co-founder of Deciem is stepping down as CEO of The Ordinary.
From December, Kilner will hand over day-to-day management of the company to Jesper Rasmussen, who joined Deciem in July 2022 as global senior vice president and general manager. Rasmussen will be promoted to global president of the brand, while Kilner will retain some of her roles as co-founder, most notably helping to shape the company's structure and vision. ‘This will allow me more time to restore my own energy and spend more time with my young family, as well as explore some new creative projects,’ Kilner explained in an internal memo accessed by the company Vogue Business.
Previously, Rasmussen has served as senior vice president of international and Europe for nine years and brand director for five years at ELC, leading the Clinique and Origins skincare brands in countries including Germany and regions such as the Middle East and Africa. Prior to that, he was commercial director at L'Oréal for seven years.
Deciem revolutionised the skincare industry by bringing transparency and knowledge of ingredients and clinical skincare to the mass market. Its flagship brand, The Ordinary, carved a niche for itself by offering skincare products with high-percentage, high-efficacy formulas that were popular on social media. It was soon followed by the higher-priced Niod skincare brand.