Ulta Beauty announced that its Board of Directors has unanimously appointed Mary Dillon as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors, effective July 1, 2013. Interim Chief Executive Officer Dennis Eck will step down from his role at that time.

 “After conducting a thorough and robust search process, the Board believes that Mary is the ideal person to lead Ulta Beauty as we enter our next phase of growth,” said Dennis Eck, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Ulta Beauty. “Mary brings strategic vision, a rich consumer marketing background, strong operational experience, and a passion for the customer. Her experience with developing national brands, her expertise in the digital world, and her track record in building strong teams will all be important assets for Ulta Beauty. After spending the last several months working closely with the management team, I am certain that Mary will be an excellent cultural fit for the organization and lead Ulta Beauty to the next level.” 

“With nearly three decades of experience leading consumer-driven businesses, Mary has the necessary leadership skills, experience as a public company CEO, and keen understanding of how to execute a successful digital strategy that will complement Ulta Beauty’s talented team to drive continued growth and success,” said Ken Stevens, Ulta Beauty’s Non-Executive Chairman of the Board.

Dillon, 52, joins Ulta Beauty from U.S. Cellular, where she served as President and Chief Executive Officer and a Director since June 2010. At U.S. Cellular, a $4 billion national wireless carrier with operations in 26 states, 5.1 million customers and a network of 1,300 stores, Dillon led the company to develop new channels of distribution and revenue initiatives, implement an omni-channel strategy, and strengthen e-commerce platforms. By delivering an excellent wireless experience through an array of industry-first initiatives that reward loyalty and inspire customer advocacy, Dillon and her team were instrumental in creating an exceptional customer experience that was recognized by several leading consumer ratings organizations. During her tenure, she drove improvements in marketing execution, created an innovation process, and strengthened relationships with key vendors to deliver more competitive offerings and launches. 

 “I am delighted to be joining a company with such a strong track record and tremendous growth opportunities and am excited to be part of the dynamic beauty industry,” said Dillon. “Ulta Beauty has set itself apart in the industry – it has always placed a real premium on the customer experience while simultaneously innovating and adapting to changes in the market. The Company is well positioned for the future and I look forward to working closely with Ulta Beauty’s excellent leadership team and 16,000 dedicated associates to build on its proven growth strategies.”