Sherilyn McCoy '80
CEO, Avon Products, Inc.
Honorary Doctor of Business
Sheri McCoy '80 was appointed last year as CEO of Avon Products, the world's largest direct seller and fifth-largest beauty company, where she oversees six million representatives working in more than 100 countries. She is one of just 21 female CEOs of a Fortune 500 company, and in 2011, Fortune ranked her as one of the "10 Most Powerful Women in Business."
McCoy joined Avon after 30 years with Johnson & Johnson, where as Vice Chairman she oversaw the 60,000 employees of that company's Pharmaceutical, Consumer, Corporate Office of Science & Technology, and Information Technology divisions. Prior to that, she served in a number of leadership roles including Worldwide Chairman, Pharmaceuticals Group from 2009 to 2011; Worldwide Chairman, Surgical Care Group from 2008 to 2009; and Company Group Chairman and Worldwide Franchise Chairman of Ethicon, Inc., a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, from 2005 to 2008. Earlier in her career she was Global President of the Baby and Wound Care franchise, and she served as Vice President, Marketing for a variety of global brands and as Vice President, Research & Development for the Personal Products Worldwide Division.
McCoy is a scientist who holds five patents. As a community leader, she advises FIRST, a non-profit organization created to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology, and serves as a member of the Rutgers University President's Business Leaders Cabinet and board member of Stonehill College.
A native of Quincy, Mass., McCoy earned her BS in Textile Chemistry from Southeastern Massachusetts University in 1980, her MS from Princeton and MBA from Rutgers.
