OSEA Taps Erika Kussmann for CEO

OSEA has appointed Erika Kussmann as Chief Executive Officer and Board Director. Co-founder Melissa Palmer will remain closely involved with the brand as Chief Brand Officer, continuing to lead marketing, product innovation, and brand development.

Kussmann brings more than two decades of experience to the role, having held senior positions at Rodan + Fields, Benefit Cosmetics, and Revlon. She most recently served as CEO — and prior to that, Chief Marketing Officer — of Paula’s Choice, where she helped steer the brand from digital-native roots to an omnichannel success.

The appointment follows OSEA’s strategic growth investment from global investor General Atlantic in September this year, in which terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“OSEA is a brand I have long admired for its integrity, proven results, and enduring commitment to quality through clean, ocean-powered products,” said Kussmann. “OSEA leads by standing apart, blending efficacy with wellness to create the differentiated experiences consumers crave while redefining what skincare can be. Customers who know about OSEA have fallen in love and we believe this is just the start.”

Palmer described the appointment as a strategic step for the brand’s expansion: “I was passionate about finding the perfect CEO with the expertise and experience to support OSEA’s global expansion. Erika’s leadership and proven ability to scale mission-driven brands globally make her the right partner for this next chapter.”

Founded in Malibu in 1996 by three generations of women, OSEA is known for its seaweed-infused formulas and sustainable, ocean-positive ethos. The brand has earned cult status for its award-winning Undaria Algae Body Oil and continues to grow its presence in the prestige skincare market through retailers like Ulta Beauty, Nordstrom, Erewhon, and MECCA.

Kussmann will work alongside OSEA’s mother-daughter founders, Jenefer and Melissa Palmer, to strengthen the brand’s international footprint while staying true to its roots in clean, clinically proven skincare.