Global beauty company Avon has appointed Jeff Benjamin as senior vice president and general counsel, effective as of Sept. 12. He also joins the company's executive committee.

Benjamin's appointment comes on the heels of a federal investigation Avon is facing over possible violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits the bribery of foreign officials. As previously reported, the investigation stems from possible bribery that occurred in connection with the company's China's operations.

Benjamin most recently served at healthcare company Novartis Corporation (formerly known as Ciba-Geigy Corporation) in a variety of positions from 1996 through 2011. Most recently, he served as chief ethics and compliance officer and chair of the ethics and compliance committee until his retirement in 2011.

After Novartis merged with generic drug maker Ciba-Geigy Corporation in 1996, Benjamin was named general counsel of Ciba-Geigy. From 1986 to 1996, he served as vice president, associate general counsel and legal department director, during which time he helped institute the company's first formal compliance program. He became deputy compliance officer in the late 1980s.

Benjamin began his legal career at law firm Kronish, Lieb, Shainswit, Weiner & Hellman.