Avon Products Inc. plans to cede a board seat to an activist investor, the company said Monday, as part of a deal that will help the struggling beauty company avoid a proxy fight.

James Mitarotonda of Barington Capital Group LP is expected to get a board seat in exchange for an agreement to support management. In connection with the agreement, Barington and its allies have agreed to support the board’s nominees rather than nominate their own as they told the company they intended to do earlier this month.

Barington, Shah Capital and NuOrion Partners have been pushing Avon to consider selling part or all of itself. The firms and their allies own a 3.4% stake in Avon AVP, +2.90% , according to a regulatory filing Monday.

The group was also frustrated with a slow-moving search for a replacement for former Chief Executive Sheri McCoy, who staged several unsuccessful turnaround efforts over her five years in charge.

An expanded version of this report appears on WSJ.com.

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Avon will give board seat to activist investor