ELIZABETH GAYNES
Founder & CEO

strangelove was founded in 2013 by Elizabeth Gaynes, who works closely with Creative Director Helena Christensen to tell love stories through the art of perfumery. Elizabeth first embarked on her journey into fragrance as a founder of GaiaOne, a company dedicated to developing sustainable farming practices for essential oils. It was through this work that she first discovered what would become the celebrated ingredient throughout strangelove's award-winning collection, oud. Elizabeth has three times been nominated for an FGI award for her work in fragrance and has been celebrated across the world through exclusive perfume launches and press in cities from New York, London and Paris to the Middle East. She aims to provoke and challenge wearers' understanding of fine fragrance while creating memories through scent that will last a lifetime.          

HELENA CHRISTENSEN
Creative Director

Universally regarded as one of the world's leading models, Helena Christensen has one of the most diverse and multifaceted careers in the business. As a photographer, entrepreneur, and environmental activist, Helena's career is without comparison. Accolades range from being on the front cover of Elle UK more than any other person, while her photographic work features at the United Nations in New York. As Creative Director at strangelove, Helena works closely with Elizabeth Gaynes to define strangelove's brand identity; she is instrumental in developing the romantic narratives that shape each fragrance within the collection and the unique presentation of the brand. Helena's natural appreciation for the rare and unusual make her an invaluable member of the team. 

 

ALEXI GLEAVES
Director of Partnerships & Media

Alexi Gleaves is an apparel designer by trade who launched her boutique creative & digital studio, House Gleaves in 2017, and has since collaborated with many fashion & beauty brands. Her background in photography & photo editing lends itself particularly well to this aspect of her work and has also led to contracted roles as a digital marketing consultant for luxury brands. Alexi has an eye for elegant, sophisticated, and evocative design, as is evidenced by the body of work she has produced for her clients & brand partners alike. Alexi's first began working with strangelove in 2017, and her role has evolved through various capacities before she officially joined as Director of Partnerships & Media in 2024.

 

ETHAN CHRISTENSEN
Director of Operations 

Ethan Christensen is a New York-based brand and operations professional, experienced across fragrance, logistics, fashion, and beauty. His four years at a logistics technology startup provided a strong foundation in operations and process management, enabling him to bridge behind-the-scenes execution with outward-facing brand presentation. He has also supported photoshoots and production for prominent New York fashion and beauty brands, including Coach, Ralph Lauren, Ugg, and Sandy Liang, gaining practical insight into executing creative concepts. Ethan uniquely combines operational rigor with a clear understanding of brand identity, visual storytelling, and customer engagement. At strangelove, he oversees brand operations, customer experience, order fulfillment, and client communication.

 

the board

 

SIMON TUCKER
Investor / Advisor 

As an experienced SaaS, Product, Customer Success, and Customer Experience Executive, Simon has held several international senior management roles in large global organizations since 1989. Notable employers include Burton Group PLC, Corporate Services Group PLC, Adaytum, Business Foundation, Hyperion Solutions, Anaplan and most recently Strangelove NYC.

In 2009, Simon was part of the initial Anaplan founding team, formed by Michael Gould and Guy Haddleton. After emerging from the ‘barn’ with the concept that would later become the world’s leading Connected Planning cloud, Anaplan went public in late 2018. Anaplan traded under the stock symbol PLAN on the NYSE.

Anaplan offers Connected Planning cloud solutions for Sales, HR, Finance, and Supply Chain. Simon brings over 30 years of experience in Planning, Enterprise Performance Management, SaaS, Business Intelligence, and Analytics. During this time, Simon was responsible for the Anaplan Community, Master Anaplanners, Centers of Excellence, and University Connect programs. Additionally, Simon set product vision and strategy and helped companies navigate their Connected Planning journeys, advocating for the need for a Chief Planning Officer in a rapidly evolving business environment.

In 2022, Anaplan was acquired by Thoma Bravo for $10.4 billion and subsequently went private. At this juncture, Simon departed and pursued investment and board opportunities.

Prior to Anaplan, Simon held various roles, including head of Product Marketing and Management at Adaytum (acquired by Cognos/IBM), Product and Corporate Marketing and Management at Hyperion Solutions (acquired by Oracle), and CEO of Business Foundation.

Simon has invested in several companies and became the lead investor and board member of Strangelove NYC, in January 2024. Additionally, Simon serves as a strategic advisor for various other companies and PE and VC firms.

 

KATHERINE E. FLEMING
Investor / Advisor 

Katherine E. Fleming is president and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust, the world’s premiere private philanthropic institution supporting the visual arts. An accomplished academic leader and internationally recognized scholar of Mediterranean history, religion, and culture, she served as provost of New York University from 2016 to 2022. Fleming was instrumental in NYU’s development as a research powerhouse and in its emergence as one of the world’s most global institutions, leading NYU’s strategy in Europe. She has served as the Alexander S. Onassis Professor of Hellenic Culture and Civilization at NYU; as a long-standing associate professor of history at the École Normale Supérieure, Paris; and, from 2012 to 2016, as president of the board of the University of Piraeus, Greece. She is an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, chevalier in the French Legion of Honor, and commander in the Greek Order of Beneficence, and was granted honorary Greek citizenship in 2015 for her contributions to Greek culture and society. Fleming holds degrees from Columbia University, the University of Chicago, and the University of California at Berkeley.