Who Is Jamie Kern Lima
Jamie Kern Lima is an American entrepreneur and investor who co-founded and led IT Cosmetics as its CEO. She built the company into a major prestige beauty brand before selling it to a large consumer goods conglomerate. Her career is often cited in business profiles and financial media as an example of a founder-led brand exit in the cosmetics sector. She has since focused on venture investing and board roles in public and private companies.
Before IT Cosmetics, Jamie Kern Lima worked as a television news anchor and reporter in the Pacific Northwest. She later studied at Washington State University and launched her first business ventures in the early 2000s. Her transition from media to beauty entrepreneurship is a frequently referenced part of her professional biography in interviews and company profiles.
IT Cosmetics and the Acquisition
IT Cosmetics was founded in 2008 by Jamie Kern Lima and her husband, Brian Lima. The brand focused on clinically driven cosmetics and built a strong following through infomercials and digital marketing. Under her leadership, the company grew into a multi-million-dollar business before being acquired by a large global consumer goods company.
In 2016, Jamie Kern Lima and her husband sold IT Cosmetics to Coty Inc. in a deal reported to be worth around 500 million dollars. The acquisition included the brand's portfolio of color cosmetics, skincare, and tools. Post-sale, she transitioned into investing and advisory roles, with public filings and interviews noting her continued involvement in the beauty and consumer sectors.
Recent Public Company Roles and Investments
Board and Advisory Positions
After the IT Cosmetics sale, Jamie Kern Lima took on board and advisory roles at several public and private companies. She has been listed as a director or advisor in filings and press releases related to consumer-focused ventures. Her current public company affiliations include seats on boards where her background in brand building and direct-to-consumer retail is cited as a strategic asset.
Venture Investing and Portfolio Companies
Jamie Kern Lima has participated in venture and growth-stage investments, often in consumer brands and technology-enabled businesses. Her investment portfolio is referenced in financial profiles and startup databases, with companies in beauty, wellness, and direct-to-consumer e-commerce appearing in her publicly noted deals. She has also been involved with organizations that support women founders and entrepreneurs in the consumer sector.
Current Public Company Affiliations
Public records and company filings show Jamie Kern Lima serving on the board of directors or in advisory capacities at companies with active public trading or recent public market activity. These roles are documented in SEC filings, investor presentations, and corporate governance disclosures. Her current board seats are often highlighted in profiles that track founder transitions from private brand building to public company governance.
Key Facts and Figures
Key facts about Jamie Kern Lima include the founding of IT Cosmetics in 2008, its sale to Coty Inc. in 2016 for an estimated 500 million dollars, and subsequent board and advisory roles at public and private companies. Her career is frequently summarized in financial and business media as a case study in founder-led brand exits, venture investing, and public company board service. For background on IT Cosmetics and its acquisition, see the Coty Inc. corporate page Coty Inc.. For a profile of her career and investments, see the Forbes profile Forbes.