Adore Beauty chief Tamalin Morton steps down for personal reasons

Online retailer Adore Beauty is back in the corporate jobs market after its second chief executive departure in less than two years.

The beauty products retailer on Monday announced Tamalin Morton would leave for personal reasons in September.

She replaced Tennealle O’Shannassy, who left in mid-2022 and is now chief executive of International Education Specialists.

Ms Morton has been a retail sector executive for about 20 years, including roles at Best Friends Pets. Priceline, Kathmandu and Spotlight. She has also been a board director at infant retailer Baby Bunting.

Adore Beauty said Ms Morton would remain as a consultant, providing strategic advice to the company, after a new chief executive has been appointed.

“I have been immensely proud to lead Adore Beauty and of what we have accomplished together,” Ms Morton said in a statement.

“While personal reasons have led me to make the difficult decision to step down as CEO, I remain committed to Adore Beauty and look forward to supporting the new CEO.”

Founded in 2000, Adore Beauty has had a troubled history on the ASX, with its value tumbling since listing in October 2020 from $6.91 per share to $1.12 on Monday.

its founders, Kate Morris and James Height, stepped down as executive directors in May last year but remain on the board.

Board chair Marina Go on Monday paid tribute to Ms Morton’s leadership, which she described as “outstanding”.

“Under Tamalin’s leadership the company has returned to growth and continues to build solid trading momentum,” she said.

“Our executive team . . . remains focused on executing our strategic initiatives, including exploring a new physical store format, M&A opportunities and private label development.”

The company separately reported “solid” performance in the third quarter of the financial year, with revenue up 8.9 per cent compared to the same time last year to $45 million, and returning and active customers increasing by 6.4 per cent and 2.4 per cent, respectively.

But the company warned retail conditions were expected to “remain challenging” for the rest of the financial year, given “continued higher cost of living pressures and subdued customer sentiment”.