Shiseido Americas Corporation, a subsidiary of Japan-based global cosmetics company Shiseido Co., Ltd., opened a new Makeup Center of Excellence in New York City, New York. The facility will be used to accelerate innovation of color cosmetics

The Center of Excellence will create and nurture new color brands and lead transformational projects within the makeup category, company officials said. This initiative is one of several Centers of Excellence that Shiseido is creating to accelerate innovation and foster best practices across its global organization. The company reported Jill Scalamandre has been selected President to head Shiseido’s Global Makeup Center of Excellence, which will “serve as a global innovation center for the design, development and execution of prestige color cosmetics initiatives across the company in support of all of its makeup brands.”

According to the firm, Ms. Scalamandre will assume her position on July 21st, 2016. Ms. Scalamandre previously served as Chief Marketing Officer, Skincare, Coty and Senior Vice President, philosophy. As President Ms. Scalamandre will be responsible for leading and supporting projects across the company to enhance and invigorate its prestige color cosmetics capabilities and product offerings.

“I am thrilled to join Shiseido and have the opportunity to work with such iconic and trend-setting makeup brands as they accelerate their growth in color. I have enormous respect for the company and their quality of products. With the Makeup Center of Excellence, we will work to drive innovation across all consumer touch points, help maximize the potential of Shiseido's color brands and grow the company’s overall footprint in the category,” . Scalamandre said.

The Center of Excellence will work closely with all of Shiseido’s makeup brands worldwide to test new product ideas, cultivate expertise and leverage market and consumer insights to better connect with customers. “Jill is a highly respected industry executive with a stellar track record and expertise that will benefit all of our makeup brands. I cannot think of a more qualified person to lead our global makeup innovation hub,” said Marc Rey President/CEO of Shiseido Americas . “The Makeup Center of Excellence will greatly enhance our consumer insights and will help all of our makeup brands move faster and achieve more. Jill is the latest in a number of impressive executives, from across the industry, who have chosen to join our already accomplished Shiseido team. Together, we are working to drive innovation and operational performance across the company under global CEO Masahiko Uotani’s bold VISION 2020 strategy.”