09.15.22
ModfiFace, the Toronto-based Augmented Reality (AR) beauty leader, acquired by L'Oréal in 2018, has appointed Jeff Houghton as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Houghton has been ModiFace's Chief Operating Officer since 2019 after joining Modiface in 2016—and will become CEO on October 1st.
Houghton says, "We've built a diverse team of researchers, scientists and engineers by taking advantage of the talent Canada has to offer. ModiFace has spent more than a decade exploring cutting-edge technology to bring beauty experiences to consumers. I want to ensure that in this next chapter, ModiFace can focus not only on continuing to scale our existing solutions, but also bring new innovation to L'Oréal."
I am looking forward to expanding our collaborations with L'Oréal experts around the world to ensure our technology is setting the bar for the future of beauty tech."
Houghton adds, I am looking forward to expanding our collaborations with L'Oréal experts around the world to ensure our technology is setting the bar for the future of beauty tech."
Houghton has been developing new augmented reality effects and collaborating on innovations such as new face trackers and virtual try on solutions. In addition to his strong tech skills in computer vision, AI and applications development, Houghton is recognized as being a pragmatic problem solver, innovative and people-centric.
Founder & Current CEO Parham Aarabi Steps Down
Founder and current CEO of ModiFace Parham Aarabi has expressed his desire to focus on a personal area of research interest and will be stepping down from his current role.Under Aarabi's leadership, ModiFace has developed proprietary technologies for facial features video tracking, applied in Virtual Try-On (VTO) for make-up and hair coloration, as well as skin diagnosis, resulting in over 30 patents and more than 200 scientific publications over the past few years.
An Verhulst-Santos, L'Oréal Canada President and CEO, comments, "On Behalf of L'Oréal Canada, I would like to extend my deepest thanks to Parham. All of our support goes to Jeff and his team for this new chapter.
Verhulst-Santos adds, "ModiFace's advanced know-how, combined with over 100 years of L'Oréal expertise, has led us to establish leadership in the augmented reality beauty arena with more than 1 billion virtual shade try-ons and 10 million skin diagnostics performed to date."
What's Next?
A three-month transition will take place until 1st January 2023.Following that date, ModiFace and L'Oréal will have Parham Aarabi's continued support as an external consultant focusing on innovation, R&D and tech talents attractiveness topics.
