George Rivera has over three decades of work experience in the cosmetics industry. George started their career as a Plant Chemist at Hilton Davis in 1988, where they worked for five years. George then joined Kolmar Laboratories as a Color Chemist and worked there for two years.
In 1995, Rivera became the Director of Operations at Intercos, representing the company's technical operations in the United States. George coordinated product development for US clients through Italy while establishing the company's US operation. George worked in this role for three years.
Rivera joined Warner Jenkinson Cosmetic Colors in 1998 as the Technical Services and Applications Manager. George defined the role of the department and trained staff on lab practices and test methodologies. George also coordinated technical seminars.
In 1999, Rivera joined L'Oreal USA as the Head of Open Development Americas and Senior Scientific International Liaison for Skincare and Sun Care. George drove programs and initiatives to increase access to external technologies for product development across the Americas. George also managed collaborations with other departments and created a network of contract manufacturers.
From 2014 to 2017, Rivera served as the Senior Vice President of Global Research & Innovation at DLAB (Dermaceutical Laboratories). In this role, they directed the design and development of new technologies, managed communications with clients and independent chemists, and drove business development and retention.
In 2018, Rivera held two positions simultaneously. George was the Executive Director of Research & Development-Innovation at Process Technologies & Packaging, where they focused on bringing innovation to product development in color and skincare categories. George also served as the Vice President of Beauty R&D, Americas at FAREVA, leading the beauty R&D team and implementing corporate R&D and system infrastructure strategies.
Rivera then joined Next Step Laboratories in 2020 as the Vice President of Sales & Marketing, where they worked until 2021.
Currently, Rivera is the Chief Executive Officer of Kolmar USA, a position they have held since 2023. Prior to this, they served as the Interim Chief Executive Officer from 2022 to 2023. Before assuming the CEO role, Rivera was the Vice President of R&D and Technical Operations, where they restructured and revitalized research and development, regulatory, and manufacturing departments.
Throughout their career, Rivera has demonstrated expertise in driving innovation, leading teams, establishing partnerships, and implementing strategies to support product development and business growth.
George Rivera has a Bachelor's degree in Business Management from Montclair State University. George also studied Industrial Chemistry at Colegio Universitario Tecnologico de Arecibo (UPR). In addition to their formal education, George has obtained certifications in Building Self-Confidence, Creating a Career Plan, and Overcoming Procrastination from LinkedIn in October 2017.
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