BOLINGBROOK, Ill. — Ulta Beauty, Inc. announced today that Chris Lialios, Senior Vice President - Controller, has been appointed Interim Chief Financial Officer following Paula Oyibo's departure. The company has initiated an external search for a permanent CFO, engaging a top executive search firm to lead the process.
Lialios, a 25-year veteran of Ulta Beauty, has served as Senior Vice President – Controller since 2018, overseeing financial reporting, internal controls, and accounting policy. He joined the company in 1999 and has held roles of increasing responsibility within the finance organization. Lialios is a Certified Public Accountant with a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Illinois, Chicago, and an M.B.A. from Webster University.
“Chris has been a respected leader on Ulta Beauty’s finance team for more than 25 years, and we are thankful to him for stepping into this important interim role as we conduct a search for our next CFO,” said Kecia Steelman, president and chief executive officer. “We’re confident that his deep familiarity with our business coupled with his financial expertise and leadership style will ensure a smooth transition as we continue to execute our Ulta Beauty Unleashed plan.”
“On behalf of the Ulta Beauty team and our Board of Directors, I want to thank Paula for her contributions and dedication to our company, guests and associates over the past six years, including serving as our CFO. We wish Paula all the best in her future endeavors,” Steelman continued.
“It has been my honor to serve as CFO for Ulta Beauty,” said Paula Oyibo, chief financial officer. “I am extremely proud of our team’s accomplishments and believe Ulta Beauty is well-positioned to execute the Ulta Beauty Unleashed plan.”
Ulta Beauty also reaffirmed its fiscal 2025 guidance, originally shared on May 29, including:
- Comparable store sales growth between 0% and 1.5%
- Operating margin between 11.7% and 11.8%
- Diluted EPS between $22.65 and $23.20
The transition comes as the beauty retailer continues to execute its long-term growth strategy amid a competitive and evolving retail landscape.
