David Boynton: Global Retail Advisor

In the world of retail, few names are as synonymous with ethical beauty as The Body Shop. Since the first little green shop in 1976, the brand has been at the forefront of the movement, championing cruelty-free products and sustainable practices. At the helm of a purpose-led transformation that began in 2017 was David Boynton, the architect behind The Body Shop's ethical evolution to remain a force in shaping the beauty industry.

David Boynton's journey with The Body Shop began with a clear vision: to reconnect the brand with the ambition of its founder, Anita Roddick, and to create a new sense of purpose to update the brand and make it relevant for today's consumer. Under his leadership, The Body Shop has undergone a significant root and branch transformation, that touched every aspect of what ethical beauty means in today's world.

As a leader, Boynton was instrumental in driving the brand's commitment to cruelty-free products and sustainable practices. An early achievement was in becoming one of the largest and most complex B-Corps in 2019. More recently, the company achieved Vegan Society certification for all 700 of its products - the strongest possible message about its continued commitment to cruelty free practices. Boynton's determination, from the earliest days, was to work tirelessly to ensure that The Body Shop's products are not only good for the consumer but also for the planet and that the brand should always be a beacon to inspire others to take that path.

David Boynton's impact over close to six years of leading The Body Shop, was significant. His vision and leadership have been instrumental in restoring the brand as a global leader in ethical beauty. As the world continues to grapple with the challenges of sustainability and ethical consumption, Boynton's work serves as a testament to the power of purpose-led transformation. The Body Shop's success under his leadership is a further reinforcement of the fact that businesses don't have to choose between being profitable and ethical and it is incumbent on leaders to find ways to make a sustainable way of doing business, differentiating and compelling to consumers.

‍