ACG Houston Women's Forum Spring Luncheon

Janet Gurwitch is an operating partner with Advent International, a Boston-based private equity firm, where she focuses on the beauty & wellness consumer sector.

Gurwitch is the founder and former CEO of Laura Mercier Cosmetics & Skincare, a global brand of high-end niche cosmetics.  Gurwitch managed and oversaw Laura Mercier’s day-to-day business operations, strategy development and retail negotiations.

Gurwitch joined forces with famed makeup artist Laura Mercier in 1996 after realizing the imminent paradigm shift in the beauty industry that was propelling niche lines to the forefront of the cosmetics business.  The combination of Gurwitch’s business savvy and foresight coupled with Mercier’s talent provided a solid foundation for a strong, growing business based on technique and a high-quality product. She sold Laura Mercier in 2008.  In September 2021, Advent acquired Laura Mercier, bareMinerals and Buxom from Shiseido.

Prior to founding Laura Mercier, Janet Gurwitch was the Executive Vice President of Neiman Marcus, where she established the merchandising strategy from 1992-1995.

Today, Gurwitch is an investor in and on the Board of Directors of Olaplex (OLPX), Drybar and the Houston Astros baseball team.  She formerly served on the boards of consumer brands Tatcha, First Aid Beauty, Dollar Shave Club and Urban Decay Cosmetics. 

Gurwitch’s personal community involvement includes the President’s Leadership Council for Houston Methodist Hospital, chairing the Hermann Park Conservancy dinner event in 2018 and chairing the Community In Schools’ (CIS) annual event in 2015.  She has also served as Underwriter for the Drawing Institute for the Menil Collection, and she’s an avid supporter of the Houston Symphony and Houston Grand Opera.