Sharon Leite Named CEO of Ideal Image
Sharon Leite, a Women in Retail Leadership Circle advisory board member and the former CEO of The Vitamin Shoppe, was named CEO of Ideal Image earlier this week. Leite will succeed David Prokupek, who will remain with Ideal Image as an advisor, the company said in a press release.
Leite spent four-and-a-half years as The Vitamin Shoppe’s CEO, leading the company’s renewed growth strategy that brought industry-leading innovation, quality and expertise to the health and wellness category. While there, she launched a technology-driven format, opened distribution to new sales channels, increased development and innovation of The Vitamin Shoppe’s private brand portfolio, introduced personalization initiatives, pioneered an expansive CBD hemp extract merchandising program, and expanded the business into Asia.
Leite announced her departure in a LinkedIn post on Jan. 5, saying, “With lots of big ideas on how we could re-imagine what The Vitamin Shoppe could become I set out on a path to learn as fast as I could about a category I knew nothing about. As a newcomer to the industry I am so appreciative of how our health enthusiasts, manufacturers, vendors and leaders in the industry welcomed me and helped guide me. Thank you.”
Prior to her role at The Vitamin Shoppe, Leite was the president of Godiva Chocolatier in North America, and has also served as the president of Sally Beauty Supply in the U.S. and Canada. She’s also held leadership positions at Pier 1 Imports, Bath & Body Works, Gap Inc., and The Walt Disney Company.
In a statement, Leite said there was a “tremendous opportunity” to reimagine Ideal Image’s brand in the aesthetics, beauty and wellness categories.
“Ideal Image has set itself apart in the industry and has been the market leader. I look forward to working with Ideal’s leadership team and dedicated associates and thank David for creating a platform which allows us to accelerate our plan to deliver affordable luxury through our treatments across North America.”
Ideal Image, which provides services including laser hair removal, Botox and skin lifts, is majority owned by private equity firm L Catterton and is based out of Tampa, Fla. The company was exploring a U.S. initial public offering in October, according to Bloomberg.
Hi, I would like to know if Sharon Leite CEO of Ideal Image is aware of the unethical problems that are occurring at some of the locations? I called an actual location in August and was forwarded to an online sales person. I was sold more cool sculpting sessions than I needed and I expressed my concern for a refund because of health issues. (Multiple sclerosis, pain pump, fibromyalgia, chronic regional pain syndrome and other) She said I would be refunded if they could not go through with the treatment. She said the suction was very light and did not hurt. I tried three treatment areas and called them the next day. Always being told that the funds would be reallocated to a different treatment, (laser hair removal…) I called multiple times. Finally spoke to their nurse practitioner on 9/4/24 . I told her that I was in a lot of pain, experiencing a flare with fatigue and trigeminal neuralgia and could not do any more treatments because it was making my body respond poorly and making me sick. After researching more on their site I found that they should not have proceeded to give me the treatment with chronic regional pain syndrome. She empathized with my pain and not wanting to continue treatments and said someone higher up would be in contact with me. Nobody has called me. I called them again on 9/17/24. I was told that the manager worked call me back. I did not receive a call. They said they could not do my abdominals because of the pain pump but they still have not refunded me for those treatment either. I told her I was more than willing to pay for the treatments I used, but I want a refund for the treatments I cannot use. The salesperson said I would need 6 cycles total on my arms. I only needed 2 when I did the treatment. This is what I’m talking about when I say that I was oversold. I tried to call and cancel the lifetime membership for $399 that was also added to my plan before the due date to cancel was up, I was again talked into “circles” about prices, discounts, moving money here and there… I don’t feel like I was given an honest sale from the start and when I has a fair health issue, with records, and have called many times and have been waiting to be called back since 9/4/24, I really feel like there is a reason that there are so many BBB issues and I should have done more research on my end. It’s not good business, it’s not safe business.
Thank you.