Beth Ann Catalano Appointed President of AHAVA North America

NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- AHAVA, the leading Dead Sea mineral-based skincare brand, is pleased to announce that the Board of Directors has appointed Beth Ann Catalano President of AHAVA North America.  Catalano's appointment becomes effective January 1, 2014.

A well-known beauty industry figure, Catalano formerly served as Senior Vice President of Sales, Administration and Education at Steiner Leisure Corporation (STNR) where she oversaw the Bliss, Elemis and Remede portfolios; reorganizing the brand's retail, wholesale and third-party spa divisions and consistently overachieving profit and revenue expectations. Prior to this post, she co-founded the successful haircare startup, Jonathan Product, breaking numerous retail sales records and winning industry awards by executing a strategy that utilized reality TV, namely Bravo's "Blow Out," to market the brand. Her extensive industry experience also includes positions at Shiseido, LVMH Corporation, Unilever and Lancome.  Catalano is replacing Elana Drell-Szyfer, who recently joined the ranks at Kenneth Cole Productions Inc.

Arie Kohen, Chairman of the Board of AHAVA Dead Sea Laboratories commented, "We are very happy to welcome Ms. Catalano to the AHAVA family.  Her entrepreneurial background and big beauty company experience are exactly what the US market needs to continue on its growth trajectory. Ms. Catalano has a true understanding of both sales and marketing; we know she will use this knowledge and her relationships to expand AHAVA's reach."

Catalano commented on AHAVA and her new role, "AHAVA has made tremendous strides in the US market – both consumers and retailers alike are taking notice of AHAVA because there is a real appreciation for unique, authentic brand stories. I am very excited to be leading the business and look forward to building the business into a true powerhouse."

Catalano is a graduate of University of Colorado at Boulder. She serves on GCI Magazine's advisory board and is committed to The Bobby Buecker Memorial Foundation, a philanthropic organization which supports families with children who have cancer. Over the course of her career, Catalano has made appearances as a guest speaker, lecturer and contributing editor for outlets such as ABC, Bloomberg, FOX News and MSNBC. She also appeared as a cast member of the hit Bravo show, "Blow Out."

About AHAVA: Founded in 1988, Israel-based AHAVA Dead Sea Laboratories is driven by a deep passion to unearth the secrets of the revitalizing effects of minerals on the skin. The only cosmetics company indigenous to the Dead Sea region, the company employs a truly singular scientific approach in its environmentally-conscious research activities. Over the years, this has culminated in the development of a series of premier skincare product lines, renowned internationally for their superior efficacy. AHAVA harvests and formulates the rich natural resources of this magical region in strict compliance with recognized international standards.

SOURCE AHAVA