COTY
Coty has recently announced a series of executive changes:
- Caroline Andreotti, Chief Commercial Officer of the Prestige Division, will step down at the end of September.
- The standalone function for Science and Sustainability will be dissolved, with its head Dr. Shimei Fan departing at the end of August.
- Chief People and Employee Relations Officer Priya Srinivasan will also leave the company.
Going forward, Coty’s Executive Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer Markus Strobel will directly oversee all commercial operations of the Prestige Division, with regional heads reporting to him.
Coty stated that “this adjustment will shorten the distance between management and the market, improve decision-making efficiency, and strengthen accountability for consumer-facing business and market share performance.”
Caroline Andreotti has been with Coty for more than 20 years and assumed her current role in 2023. During her tenure, she led the establishment of Coty’s global commercial strategy framework and maintained key relationships with major clients and partners.
Coty’s Prestige Division portfolio includes luxury designer brands such as Gucci, Burberry, Calvin Klein, Chloé, Marc Jacobs, Hugo Boss, Tiffany & Co., Marni, Etro, Escada, Jil Sander, Joop!, and Davidoff, as well as skincare and beauty lines including Lancaster, Philosophy, Infiniment Coty Paris, Kylie Cosmetics, and Kylie Skin.
The Science and Sustainability function will be integrated into the Supply Chain Division. Chief Supply Chain Officer Graeme Carter will oversee this area. The company noted that “placing innovation R&D, sustainability, and supply chain of the Prestige Division under one leader will streamline the product development and delivery process of Coty’s core business.”
Alongside the restructuring of the Prestige Division, and as the group’s “Coty.Curated” transformation plan accelerates in the second half of the year, Séverine Charbon, former Global Talent Lead at Publicis Groupe with over 25 years of experience in global talent strategy and organisational transformation, will join as Chief People and Employee Relations Officer on September 1.
Above: Markus Strobel, Graeme Carter, Séverine Charbon
Shiseido
Japanese beauty group Shiseido has appointed Adele Zhang as General Manager of Global Travel Retail, effective July 1.
In her new role, Adele Zhang will oversee the group’s global travel retail operations across Japan, Asia (including the Chinese Mainland), the Americas, and Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). She will work closely with regional leaders and global brand teams to “accelerate sustainable growth, strengthen core retail partnerships, and further enhance Shiseido’s position in the dynamic global travel retail channel.”
Previously, Adele Zhang served as Deputy General Manager of Global Travel Retail and General Manager of Asia Travel Retail at Shiseido. She will continue to report to Toshinobu Umetsu, CEO of China and Travel Retail.
Adele Zhang joined Shiseido in September 2025. Prior to that, she spent nearly 12 years at L’Oréal Group, most recently as General Manager of Travel Retail China, and earlier held roles at brands including Biotherm and Shu Uemura.
dsm-firmenich
Dutch-Swiss fragrance and flavour group dsm-firmenich has named Marie Salamagne and Frank Voelkl as Master Perfumers, adding them to its elite perfumer ranks.
Since 2016, no new Master Perfumers had been appointed within Firmenich’s fine fragrance division, making Salamagne and Voelkl the first to receive the title in nearly a decade.
Marie Salamagne’s notable creations include Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic, Maison Margiela Beach Walk and By the Fireplace, L’Artisan Parfumeur Histoire d’Orangers, Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium and Muse, Dries Van Noten Santal Greenery, Jo Malone London Orange Marmalade, Gucci Flora Gorgeous Orchid, Ralph Lauren Polo 67, and the recent hit Prada Paradigme.
Frank Voelkl’s well-known works include Gucci Bamboo, Tom Ford Tuscan Leather Intense, Dolce & Gabbana Velvet Amber Sun, Liberty LBTY Zephirine, as well as fragrances for leading niche US brand Phlur such as Mood Ring and Father Figure, and Casa Blanca for House of BŌ. He has also created multiple celebrity fragrances, collaborating with figures including Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, and Justin Bieber. Most recently, he developed a fragrance for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s personal brand Papatui. He has maintained a long-standing collaboration with Le Labo, co-creating nearly 20 fragrances, including the iconic Santal 33, as well as Thé Noir 29, Thé Matcha 26, Baie 19, and Violette 30.
In addition to Marie Salamagne and Frank Voelkl, the current roster of Master Perfumers in Firmenich’s fine fragrance division includes Alberto Morillas, Olivier Cresp, Honorine Blanc, and Nathalie Lorson.
Above: Frank Voelkl, Marie Salamagne
Unilever
Unilever has appointed Hanny van Amerongen as Chief R&D Officer for its Personal Care category.
A seasoned R&D leader, Hanny van Amerongen has been with Unilever for over 14 years, leading multiple product pipeline strategies and major innovation initiatives. Most recently, she served as VP R&D Global Innovation Foods and Unilever Food Solutions, overseeing global food innovation, packaging R&D, and consumer insight research.
Her previous roles at Unilever include Global R&D Director Foods, Digital R&D Director, and R&D Manager Personal Care Europe.
Unilever’s personal care portfolio includes flagship brands such as Dove, Dove Men+Care, Rexona, LUX, Axe, and Lifebuoy.
| Sources: official press releases, official social media accounts
| Image Credit: official press releases, personal social media accounts
