Former Amazon Exec Carla Vernón Named CEO Of Honest Company

Carla Vernón is set to become of a handful of Afro-Latina CEOs in the U.S. The former Amazon and General Mills executive has been tapped to lead The Honest Company as its next CEO, effective January 9.

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Vernón will replace current CEO Nick Vlahos, who will step down from nearly six years of day-to-day operations for the clean lifestyle brand. Prior to The Honest Company, she was vice president of Amazon.com’s consumables categories, where she led the baby care, household products, food, beverages, health and wellness, and beauty categories to double-digit topline growth of the platform’s $200 billion online stores.

In her new role, Vernón will focus on driving category growth and profitability behind the company’s core mission. “As a leader of the clean lifestyle movement, The Honest Company is uniquely positioned to meet the needs of this era and I am thrilled to join Jessica and the leadership team with a fresh perspective as we enter a new chapter of innovation and growth,” said Vernón. “As I take my seat at the table as a woman, a mom, and one of the only Afro-Latina CEOs of a U.S. public company, there are so many people and experiences that come with me. These perspectives can inspire our future growth and vision.”

She previously worked with Honest as part of a partnership with Amazon to launch the Honest Lifestyle platform launch at Amazon. “It is clear that she understands how to engage the conscious-minded shopper and their desire for clean and natural products,” said Vlahos. “I am confident that Carla is the right leader to continue to scale the business as we embark on our next decade as a modern consumer lifestyle brand, inspiring everyone to love living consciously.” Vlahos will remain on the board of directors.

Vernon was also an integral part of revitalizing Amazon.com’s beauty categories, including the number of emerging and prestige beauty brands, introducing a proprietary virtual lipstick try-on technology, and creating the first-ever seasonal beauty merchandising event: Amazon’s Holiday Beauty Haul.

Prior to Amazon, Vernón spent more than two decades at General Mills in various P&L leadership roles across the company’s portfolio, with a particular focus on the company’s purpose-driven brands. As division president of its natural and organic business, Vernón was instrumental in guiding General Mills to become the second-largest branded maker of natural and organic food in North America and the industry leader in regenerative agriculture and organic farming through a commitment to advancing regenerative practices on one million acres of land. Vernón also serves on Princeton University’s board of trustees.

“Carla is widely recognized as a transformational leader and purpose-driven executive,” said James D. White, chair of The Honest Company board of directors. “She brings invaluable experience scaling and energizing businesses, developing and executing successful omnichannel strategies, and fostering diverse and inclusive workplace cultures.”