Fractional Chief Product Officer · 30 Years in the Cosmetics Industry
Senior Product Leadership for Cosmetic Brands, Manufacturers, and Investors.
Kevin Mallory brings three decades of formulation expertise, manufacturing experience, and industry relationships to your business as your Fractional CPO, on a flexible basis that fits your stage and budget.
Great Products Don’t Happen by Accident. They Need Senior Leadership Behind Them.
Whether you’re an indie founder launching your first product, an established brand entering a new category, or a private equity firm evaluating a cosmetic acquisition, the complexity behind a great product is the same. Formulation decisions, supplier relationships, manufacturer vetting, regulatory compliance, and scaling without costly mistakes all require expertise that takes decades to build.
A Fractional Chief Product Officer gives your business that expertise, embedded directly in your operations, on a flexible basis. You get C-suite level product leadership without the full-time overhead.
I work with a small number of clients at a time, across the full spectrum of the cosmetics industry, so every engagement gets my full attention and my full network.
Expertise
30+ years as formulator, founder, and CEO
Network
Elite suppliers, manufacturers, and industry relationships
Flexibility
C-suite leadership on a basis that fits your stage and budget
About Kevin
I’ve spent more than 30 years at every level of the cosmetics industry as a formulator, a manufacturer, a founder, and a CEO.
In 1989, I founded Formulab, a cosmetic chemistry and product development company. I’ve taken products from concept to formula to factory floor to retail shelf. I’ve built private label lines, launched my own skincare brand, negotiated with suppliers, managed production facilities, and navigated every challenge a cosmetic business can throw at you.
Today, through Blaise Harrison Consulting, I bring that experience directly to brands, manufacturers, and investors as a Fractional CPO. I’m not here to hand you a report. I’m here to work alongside you — in your corner, solving real problems, getting products made right.
“For 30 years I’ve been in the lab, at the negotiating table, and in the boardroom. Now I bring that experience directly to the clients who need a seasoned expert in their corner.”
— Kevin Mallory
Services
What a Fractional CPO Actually Does for Your Business
I step into your business as your head of product with the experience, relationships, and operational knowledge to move things forward.
Product Strategy & Roadmapping
You need a product line that makes sense commercially, scientifically, and for your brand. I help you define what to build, in what order, and why, so your product decisions are driven by strategy rather than guesswork.
- Build a cohesive, scalable product roadmap
- Align formulation decisions with your brand positioning and margins
Formulation Leadership & Innovation
With 30+ years as a working formulator, I can lead your R&D process from the inside. I know what works, what's realistic, and how to get to a winning formula without wasting time or money.
- Guide formulation from concept through stability and scale-up
- Develop high-performance products
- Regulatory and compliance support
- Troubleshoot formulation challenges before they become costly problems
Manufacturer & Supplier Relationships
Finding the right contract manufacturer or supplier is one of the hardest parts of building a product business. I've spent three decades building these relationships — and I put them to work for you.
- Vet and select contract manufacturers and co-packers
- Negotiate favorable sourcing and production contracts
- Access my elite network of chemical suppliers and packaging manufacturers
- Identify rare or high-performance ingredients
Supply Chain & Procurement Optimization
Whether you're launching your first product or scaling an existing line, procurement decisions have an outsized impact on your margins and your timeline. I will help you get it right.
- Raw material sourcing and cost reduction strategies
- Supply chain setup and ongoing management
Launch Execution
Getting a product to market requires coordinating a lot of moving parts and one missed step can blow a launch timeline. I've done this dozens of times. I help you execute.
- Project management from final formula to first production run
- Realistic timelines built from actual manufacturing experience
- Coordination between your brand team, manufacturer, and suppliers
Who I Work With
I work with brands, manufacturers, founders, and investors at every stage of the cosmetics industry. What they all have in common is needing senior-level product expertise and not wanting to hire a full-time executive to get it.
Indie Beauty Founders
You have the brand vision and the customer connection. Where things get complex is everything behind the product — formulation, sourcing, manufacturers, timelines, and scaling. I help you navigate that world without the costly trial and error most founders go through alone.
Established Cosmetic Brands
Launching a new category, improving margins, fixing a formulation issue, or optimizing your supply chain — sometimes even experienced brands need a senior product expert who's been there before. I step in where you need me and get things moving.
Private Label Brands & Retailers
Building a proprietary product line is one of the highest-margin moves a retailer or entrepreneur can make. I help you develop products that perform, find the right manufacturing partners, and protect your margins from day one.
Celebrity & Influencer Beauty Launches
You bring the audience and the creative vision. I bring the product expertise to make sure what you put your name on is something your customers will love and keep buying.
Sourcing
I can help you strategically source every component needed to launch a skincare product, from raw ingredients to packaging and beyond.
What Makes This Different
There’s no shortage of consultants in the beauty industry. Here’s what’s different about working with me.
I’ve done the job, not just advised on it.
I’ve run a manufacturing company for over 35 years. I’ve been the person making the calls under pressure — on sourcing, on quality, on timelines, on cost. That perspective is impossible to replicate from a consulting background alone.
I work with a small number of clients.
I deliberately limit how many clients I work with at one time. That means you get my full attention, not a junior associate’s.
I’m on your side of the table.
As a brand founder myself, I understand what it’s like to need results, not reports. I show up as a partner, not a vendor.
How We Work Together
Every engagement is structured around what you actually need.
Monthly Retainer
Ongoing, embedded CPO support — a set number of hours per week or month, dedicated to your business. Best for brands and companies actively developing, launching, or scaling products.
Let’s TalkAdvisory / Strategic Counsel
Periodic access to senior-level guidance for brands and investors that need a seasoned voice in key decisions without day-to-day involvement.
Let’s TalkNot sure which fits? Let’s talk. I’ll tell you honestly what makes sense for where you are.
Let’s Talk About What You’re Building.
Every engagement starts with a conversation. Tell me where you are, what you’re trying to accomplish, and where you’re getting stuck. I’ll tell you honestly whether I’m the right fit — and if I am, what working together would look like.
I work with a limited number of clients at a time, so if the timing is right, let’s not wait.