Lady Gaga takes over as Haus Labs CEO after co-founder exits

Lady Gaga has taken over as chief executive of Haus Labs, the make-up brand she founded, with effect from 29 October 2026, according to the company's announcement reported by beauty-trade publications. She replaces co-founder Ben Jones, who had led the brand as chief executive since its launch and left the company earlier in October. Gaga, who has directed the brand's creative work and product development since 2019, will now also run its commercial operations.

Celebrity names now sit behind many of the world's fastest-growing beauty labels, but in most cases the famous founder is the face and creative voice while a professional executive runs the business. Rare Beauty, founded by Selena Gomez, for example, is run by chief executive Scott Friedman. Gaga's move reverses that pattern. By taking the top job herself, she becomes directly accountable for the brand's sales, costs and growth, not only its image and products. Business commentators have described this as unusual among celebrity-led beauty companies.

The change also comes at a sensitive time. Reports have linked the leadership shift to a recent controversy over the brand's Sun Dipped Bronzing Veil, which was planned in six shades. Make-up creators criticised the range for leaving out deeper skin tones, and the brand paused the launch and later expanded the shades, according to those reports. Shade range has become a test of credibility in beauty since brands such as Fenty Beauty showed that inclusive ranges can win customers. A founder taking direct charge after such a dispute signals that the company wants product decisions and business decisions to sit with the same person.

For readers interested in fashion and beauty as enterprise, the story shows the different roles inside a brand. A creative director decides what the products look like and how they are presented. A chief executive answers for the whole company: revenue, partners, staff, investors and risk. Combining both roles gives a founder full control, but it also puts the pressure of results on one person who, in this case, also has a full-time career in music and film.

The Indian beauty market has followed a similar path, with actors and influencers launching or backing cosmetics and skincare labels. Most of them, too, leave day-to-day management to professional executives. How Haus Labs performs under its founder's direct leadership will be watched as an example of whether celebrity founders can also be effective operators.

Short-term: Haus Labs now has its founder in charge of both creative and commercial decisions. Retail partners, staff and customers will look for early signals on product launches, shade ranges and how the brand responds to criticism from creators.

Long-term: If the brand grows under her leadership, it could encourage other celebrity founders to take on operating roles rather than leaving them to hired executives. If it struggles, it may reinforce the industry's usual model of a famous founder supported by a professional chief executive.

Who is affected: Haus Labs employees and retail partners; customers, especially those with deeper skin tones who raised concerns about shade ranges; investors in celebrity-led beauty brands; and founders, including in India, weighing whether to run their own labels.

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