Wella Company Fortifies Leadership with Luxury Legal Veteran for Next Growth Phase

NEW YORK, NY – April 17, 2026 – The Wella Company, a global leader in the beauty sector, has announced a significant addition to its executive team, appointing Krista McDonough Kubida as its new Chief Legal Officer. The move, effective June 29, 2026, is a clear signal of the company's strategic intent as it continues a multi-year transformation into a standalone powerhouse in the hair, nail, and beauty tech industries.

Kubida, who will be a key member of the Wella Leadership Team based in New York, succeeds the retiring Kathy Leo. The appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the 145-year-old company, which is navigating a dynamic market under the guidance of its new CEO, Calvin McDonald. Kubida's extensive background in the luxury consumer goods sector is seen as a critical asset for steering Wella through its next chapter of innovation and global expansion.

A Strategic Hire for a Company in Transformation

Over the past five years, The Wella Company has aggressively reshaped its identity, evolving from a subsidiary into an independent entity with a formidable portfolio of brands including Wella Professionals, OPI, ghd, and Clairol. This transformation has required sharp commercial and legal navigation, a skillset Kubida has demonstrated throughout her career.

She joins Wella from Capri Holdings Limited, the NYSE-listed parent company of iconic fashion brands Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo. During her nearly 15-year tenure, which began in 2011, Kubida rose through the ranks to become Chief Legal and Sustainability Officer. In this role, she was instrumental in guiding the luxury group through major corporate transactions, complex compliance landscapes, and a significant global expansion of its retail, wholesale, and eCommerce operations. Her experience managing the legal intricacies of a publicly traded, brand-led conglomerate provides a direct parallel to the ambitions of The Wella Company.

"We are thrilled to welcome Krista to The Wella Company," said CEO Calvin McDonald in a statement. "She brings deep expertise across brand- and product-led consumer companies, a strong commercial mindset, and extensive experience supporting businesses through periods of evolution. Her proven ability to partner with leadership teams and boards while establishing a high-performing legal organization will be invaluable as we build on our momentum and shape the future of beauty together.”

Before her impactful career at Capri, Kubida honed her skills as a corporate, capital markets, and securities attorney at the prestigious law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. There, she advised public companies and private equity clients, giving her a foundational understanding of the complex financial and transactional maneuvers that underpin corporate growth and transformation—experience that will be directly applicable to Wella's strategic goals.

The Modern CLO: Blending Legal Acumen with Strategy

Kubida’s appointment also highlights the evolving role of the Chief Legal Officer in modern corporations. Her most recent title at Capri, which included responsibility for sustainability, reflects a growing trend where legal chiefs are no longer just guardians of compliance but are integral strategic partners shaping corporate direction, including Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives.

In an industry increasingly scrutinized by consumers for its ethical and environmental footprint, Kubida’s background in sustainability offers Wella a leader equipped to integrate these considerations into the core of its legal and business strategy. As Wella continues to innovate in the beauty tech space with products like the ghd line of styling devices, the legal challenges surrounding intellectual property, data privacy, and global supply chain regulations become ever more complex. A CLO with a holistic view of the business and its impact is essential.

Kubida herself acknowledged this broader strategic mandate. “I am excited to join The Wella Company at this phase in its transformation journey,” she stated. “The company’s powerful brand heritage, creative and entrepreneurial spirit, and performance-based culture deeply resonate with me. I look forward to serving as a strategic partner to Calvin and the leadership team to foster innovation and growth while reinforcing strong governance to support lasting impact for our professional customers and consumers.”

This perspective signals a proactive, rather than reactive, approach to the legal function—one that aims to enable growth and innovation while mitigating risk in a fast-paced, consumer-driven market.

A New Chapter in Wella's Leadership

The arrival of Krista Kubida is a key part of a broader leadership refresh designed to steer The Wella Company into its future. Working alongside CEO Calvin McDonald, she joins an executive team tasked with building upon the company's recent successes and capitalizing on new market opportunities. Her predecessor, Kathy Leo, is credited with playing an instrumental role in establishing the company's legal and compliance foundation following its separation into an independent entity, building the very team Kubida will now lead.

The Wella Company today is a global enterprise with over 6,000 employees and a presence in more than 100 countries, serving both professional stylists and end consumers. Its robust portfolio is a blend of heritage and innovation, from Wella Professionals being the top salon color brand globally to OPI's dominance in the nail care market. Maintaining momentum across such a diverse and expansive operation requires a leadership team with a shared vision and complementary expertise.

Kubida’s appointment fills a critical role with a leader whose experience is perfectly aligned with the company's trajectory. Her deep understanding of brand-centric, global businesses and her forward-thinking approach to the legal function position her to be a vital contributor to Wella's ongoing story of transformation and its quest to define the future of the beauty industry.