Watsons elevates Caryn Loh to regional MD role

AS Watson has appointed Caryn Loh (pictured) as regional managing director for health and beauty Asia, effective 1 June 2026, expanding her leadership responsibilities across key markets in the region.

In her new role, Loh will continue to serve as regional exclusives director for Watsons International while overseeing the strategic growth and operational leadership of Watsons' businesses in Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand.

The appointment comes as the retailer looks to strengthen regional collaboration, accelerate innovation and reinforce its position in the health and beauty retail sector across Asia.

Don't miss: 185 years later, Watsons is banking on heroes, smiles and feel-good retail 

A veteran of the company, Loh brings more than two decades of experience with Watsons. She first joined Watsons Malaysia in 2004 as the general manager for the trading department, before heading up the chief operating officer and country head (general manager) roles, and was subsequently appointed managing director for the brand's business in Malaysia. 

In August 2024, she was appointed as the chief operating officer of AS Watson, the parent company of Watsons Malaysia. 

Prior to her 20-year journey with Watsons, Loh was with Metro Cash and Carry for five years, and Carrefour for three years. 

Under her expanded mandate, Loh will focus on growing Watsons' health and beauty ecosystem across the region, with priorities including enhancing customer experiences, driving innovation and strengthening the retailer's portfolio of exclusive products.

Commenting on the appointment, Loh said the health and beauty industry is undergoing rapid transformation across Asia, creating new opportunities for innovation and customer engagement.

“Together with our talented teams, we will continue to innovate, strengthen our customer connections, and deliver meaningful value to the communities we serve”, she added.

In related news, earlier in March this year, Shiseido appointed Caroline Foo as managing director for Malaysia, marking her return to the market after eight years working abroad.

Foo, who had been serving as president director of Shiseido Indonesia for the past three years, took on the Malaysia role while continuing to lead the Indonesian business. The dual appointment was expected to strengthen collaboration and unlock synergies across both markets.

Last month, Watsons announced it was celebrating 185 years in business with a multi-pronged campaign spanning product discovery, gamified rewards, sustainability efforts and limited-time promotions, as the health and beauty retailer leans into everyday essentials and emotional brand recall.

Running from 14 May to 16 September 2026, the anniversary campaign centres on “185 product heroes”, a curated selection of staples across beauty, personal care and health designed to spotlight items already embedded in consumers’ daily routines.

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