Beauty company Avon Cosmetics has appointed Michelle Parczuk as HR executive director for the UK and Republic of Ireland

Parczuk has taken over from predecessor, Daniel Afonso, who has assumed a regional role as talent and training director, Avon Western Europe MEA. She brings 15 years of HR leadership experience with her to the role, following positions at multinational companies including Findus Group, PepsiCo UK and Ford Motor Company.

Avon UK & ROI has a largely female management board, with Parczuk's appointment taking the count to five out of seven members. Avon remains powered by a salesforce mainly of female entrepreneurs who run their own Avon enterprises, a sales model that has thrived for 125 years.