Johnson Publishing Names New President and COO

Linda Johnson Rice, president and CEO of Johnson Publishing Company, Inc. (JPC),  announced today that Anne Sempowski Ward, president and COO of Fashion Fair Cosmetics, has been named president and COO of Johnson Publishing Company, Inc. Rice will continue to lead the company as chairman and CEO.

“Anne has a proven track record of successful leadership,” said Linda Johnson Rice. “She is a visionary with a strategic focus on growth for Johnson Publishing Company. I look forward to the energy and tenacity she will bring to this position as she has so evidently done with Fashion Fair Cosmetics.”

Effective today, Ward will oversee the operations of all divisions of the company. She will be responsible for developing the company’s financial and operational strategies and implementing diversified initiatives to grow sales and brand equity across all JPC brands including Ebony magazine, Jet magazine and Fashion Fair Cosmetics.

“I am exceptionally honored to be a part of the legacy of Johnson Publishing Company,” said Ward. “As president and COO, my commitment is to lead the company’s talented team of professionals to the next plateau with a keen focus on continued solvency and growth.”

As president and COO of Fashion Fair Cosmetics (FFC), Ward reorganized the business for growth, developed a myriad of new strategies, launched new product innovation and re-energized the cosmetics team for the future.  She will continue in this role in addition to her new appointment.

Prior to joining FFC, Ward was assistant vice president of African-American Marketing for the Coca-Cola Company.  She was responsible for implementing all business development strategies and programs to build market share with African-American consumers across all major Coca-Cola brands, including Coke, Sprite, Powerade, Dasani and Minute Maid.  

Ward also spent more than a decade at Procter & Gamble, where she led several brands and categories, including Pampers, Always, Tampax and hair care.  She had a lead role in the launch of significant African-American marketing campaigns and created the “Total You” beauty platform across P&G’s largest beauty brands.

The Detroit native received her Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science from Duke University. She also earned a Global MBA degree from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

An active member of the civic and business communities, Ward has received numerous acknowledgements for her work. She has been recognized as a YMCA Black Achiever, YWCA Rising Star, “Top Black Executive in a Major Corporation” as well a “Woman at the Top” by EBONY magazine.  She was also the youngest and first African-American trustee on the P&G Fund, the entity responsible for all of P&G’s philanthropic giving.