R.e.m. Beauty, the cosmetics brand founded by global pop icon Ariana Grande, has named André Branch as its new chief executive officer. The appointment signals a pivotal moment for the fast-growing brand as it continues to scale within the competitive prestige beauty space.
Grande described the hire as a “cosmic collision” and praised Branch’s ability to align with the brand’s vision and mission. Branch brings a wealth of experience across beauty and broader consumer categories. In addition to leadership roles at L’Oréal and The Estée Lauder Companies, he most recently served as general manager of MAC Cosmetics North America.
“R.e.m. Beauty has an immense amount of potential within prestige beauty,” Branch noted. “The brand has been growing exponentially since launch, and when I think about Ariana’s global platform and her values — which align so closely with R.e.m.’s — I see tremendous opportunity ahead. With her creative vision and my operational expertise, I think we can really create value for consumers and for the category.”
Founded in 2021, R.e.m. Beauty is available at Ulta Beauty, Target, and online, and is rooted in self-expression, inclusivity, and authenticity. In its early stages, R.e.m. Beauty was operated under a licensing agreement with Forma Brands, with Grande only lending her name and image. However, after the original operator filed for bankruptcy in 2023, Grande invested $15 million to buy back the brand and acquire all remaining inventory, officially regaining full control.
