can one person make a difference in an organizations performancel Andrea Jung chairman and CEO ofAvon (see photo), isprowing one can. Jung joined Avon 1994 after working for retailers such as Neiman Marous and Bloomingdale's. Her original task at Awon was to create a global brand. And that's what she did. Jung integrated and standardized the companys logo, packaging, and ads to create a uniform irnage: and she pushed for the cument corporate slogan, "The company for women'' Based on her success in improving Avon's marketing focus, the comparns board appointed her chairman and CEO in 1999. The company that Jung took over was in deep trouble. The day of the Avon Lady seemed to have passed Fewer women were signing on as Awon reps and sales were sagging. But after only four weeks in her new job, jung had a tumaround plan worked out. Avon would launch an entirely new line of businesses, develop blockbuster products, and begin selling Awon products in retail stores thing it had never done in its long history. She added 46 percent to Avons research and development budget to get blockbusters to market faster. This led to the launching of Retroactive, an anti-aging skin crearn that has become a runaway hit, and new lines of itamins and therapy oils. She also reduced the number of Avon suppliers from 300 to h5, saving the company $60 million a year. Maybe most importantly, Jung has breathed new life into the ranks of the "Avon Ladies." To rebuild the comparys sales. force, she created a multilevel marketing program that rewards current sales people for signing up new reps. One saleswoman in East Rodkaway, New York for instance, brought in 350 new reps in just 18 months. After two years on the job, Jungs leadership has truly made a difference in Avon's performance, Sales growth climbed from 15 percent a year to 6 percent operating profits grew from 4 percent to 7 percent and the com- pany's stock was up 70 percent.