Sharon Leite leaves Vitamin Shoppe after 4.5 years as CEO

05-Jan-2023 - Last updated on 05-Jan-2023 at 20:13 GMT

The Vitamin Shoppe will be announcing a new CEO as Sharon Leite announced she is leaving the retailer after four-plus years at the helm.

Leite joined The Vitamin Shoppe in August 2018 and re-energized the dietary supplement and health retailer, launching a technology-driven retail format, opening distribution to new sales channels, increasing development and penetration of private brands, introducing personalization initiatives, pioneering an expansive CBD hemp extract merchandising program, and expanding the business into Asia.

During her tenure, The Vitamin Shoppe also launched an innovative, omnichannel franchising model, with the first-ever franchise location opening at the start of 2022.

She has also inked integrated partnerships with industry leaders such as WW (formerly Weight Watchers), Ghost, and Warner Bros. Consumer Products.

Prior to The Vitamin Shoppe, Leite was President of North America at Godiva Chocolatier, and prior to that served as President of Sally Beauty, US and Canada, and Executive Vice President of Sales, Customer Experience, and Real Estate for Pier 1 Imports.

Leite was also featured in Season 11 of CBS’s Emmy Award-winning series Undercover Boss.

In a statement for NutraIngredients-USA, The Vitamin Shoppe said: “Sharon Leite has exited her role as CEO of The Vitamin Shoppe, effective January 4. We thank Sharon for her many contributions and wish her well in her future endeavors. The experienced leadership team at The Vitamin Shoppe will continue the company’s strong growth path forward and a new CEO will be announced at a later date.”

"I am forever a Health Enthusiast”

In a post on LinkedIn, Leite stated: “Hard to believe it was just 4 ½ years ago when I first walked into our offices in Secaucus, NJ. With lots of big ideas on how we could re-imagine what The Vitamin Shoppe could become. I set out on a path to learn as fast as I could about a category I knew nothing about. As a newcomer to the industry I am so appreciative of how our health enthusiasts, manufacturers, vendors and leaders in the industry welcomed me and helped guide me. Thank you.

“Over the years I've traveled to meet our Health Enthusiasts in our stores and in our DC’s to support, listen and learn. I loved hearing from them how passionate they are about our business, why they care so much about what they do and why they are a Health Enthusiast. Every time I was with them I left inspired to do more, be more….It has been the greatest privilege to be a part of this team.

“While I am excited about where I am headed next, I will miss and am incredibly grateful to my team at The Vitamin Shoppe. I am forever a #healthenthusiast.”