Spa News: Aveda Founder Horst Rechelbacher Dies

Horst Rechelbacher, founder of Aveda and Intelligent Nutrients died at the age of 72 following a battle with cancer.

Rechelbacher’s career in beauty and skin care spanned nearly 60 years, beginning when he was only 14 years old. The young Austrian native took on a three-year apprenticeship in the hair industry, after which he decided to spread his wings and take his chances as a stylist in the U.S. It was there that he would come to found Aveda, the global, plant-based cosmetic company with roots in Ayurvedic principles. “He brought holistic beauty to the industry, connecting hair, face and body as one,” said Dominique Conseil, global president of Aveda. After two decades of growing Aveda into a world-renowned brand, Rechelbacher sold the company in 1997 to Estee Lauder for $300 million.

In 2008 Rechelbacher launched health and beauty company Intelligent Nutrients. The company is committed to delivering products with organic, non-toxic, food-based ingredients.

In addition to being an industry leader, Rechelbacher was also an established author, having written four books on the beauty philosophies and principals in which he so strongly believed–Minding Your Business, Rejuvenation, Aveda Rituals and Alivelihood. Some of Rechelbacher’s additional achievements include:

• October 2009—The President of Austria awards him the “Decoration of Honour in Gold for Service to the Republic of Austria” for his exemplary representation of an Austrian business leader

• 2009—speaker at TEDIndia

• 2008—Inducted into Minnesota Business Hall of Fame by Twin Cities Business Magazine as one of Minnesota’s most accomplished business leaders of all time

• 2007—Presented with Crystal Award from the International Congress of Esthetics and Spa

• 2007— Received the Rachel Carson Award for a Lifetime Commitment to Environmental Ethics & Integrity

• 2007—Honored as an Industry Innovator & Legend for lifetime contribution to the cosmetology industry by the Spa & Salon Professional Association Incorporated

• 2005 and 1995 —Voted one of the most influential environmentalists in the U.S. by Vanity Fair magazine

• 2004—Founding member of the Organic Center for Education, Research and Promotion

• 2004—Received Lifetime Achievement Award from the North American Hairstyling Awards

Rechelbacher is survived by his wife, Kiran Stordalen; his daughter, Nicole Thomas, Nicole’s husband Peter Thomas; his son Peter and wife Mindy Rechelbacher; and his grandchildren, Emma, Richard, Ruby and Jada.

[Image: Intelligent Nutrients]

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