Estée Lauder/New Incubation Ventures
Shana Randhava, Senior Vice President of New Incubation Ventures (NIV), Estée Lauder Companies‘ investment and incubation arm, has stepped down, marking the end of her ten-year tenure at Estée Lauder.
Randhava took the helm of NIV in 2021, shortly after Estée Lauder made its initial investment in the beauty brand Faculty. Under her leadership, NIV executed a series of strategic initiatives, including the acquisition of Kilian Paris and investments in brands such as Haeckels, Kiki World, Melt Season, and Code Mint. She also championed the gender-neutral fragrance brand Vyrao, which is centered around energy healing.
Beyond investments, Randhava played a pivotal role in NIV’s global initiatives, including “Beauty & You,” “The Catalysts,” and “NIV Scouts,” all of which focus on entrepreneurship support and market innovation.
Givaudan
Swiss fragrance and flavor giant Givaudan recently announced board nominations ahead of its annual general meeting in March. The board has proposed Melanie Maas-Brunner as an independent board member and Louie D’Amico as a non-independent board member, with their terms lasting until the next annual general meeting. Meanwhile, Olivier Filliol will not seek re-election and will step down from the board following the 2025 annual meeting.
Melanie Maas-Brunner, born in 1968 in Germany, holds a Ph.D. in chemistry from RWTH Aachen University. She began her career in 1997 as a research scientist at the multinational chemical company BASF. Starting in 2001, she managed BASF’s plasticizers and solvents business and later held several managerial roles, including positions in Hong Kong.
From February 2021 to January 2024, Maas-Brunner served as BASF’s Chief Technology Officer and a member of its Executive Board. As of April 2024, she will also serve as a non-executive board member at Finnish forestry company UPM-Kymmene Oyj and Belgian food and chemical distributor Azelis Group NV.
Above: Melanie Maas-Brunner
Louie D’Amico, an American citizen born in 1961, holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Michigan State University. He began his career in 1989 as a key account manager at Tastemaker, a company later acquired by Givaudan. Over the years, he has held multiple senior leadership roles, including Head of North America’s Sweet Goods Division, Head of North America’s Savory Division, Global Key Account Manager, Global Head of Beverages, and Commercial Head for Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
Above: Louie D’Amico
In 2010, D’Amico returned to the U.S. as Head of Flavors for the Americas. Since April 1, 2018, he has served as President of the Taste & Wellbeing division and a member of Givaudan’s Executive Committee. He is set to step down at the end of March 2025 but will continue providing strategic advice and support for key projects through the transition period until September 2025.
La Prairie
La Prairie has appointed Giuseppe Berardi as General Manager for Italy, effective November 1.
Berardi brings extensive experience in marketing, brand development, and business leadership across multiple countries, including Italy, France, Germany, and Japan. He has held various roles of increasing responsibility within Beiersdorf, the German consumer goods company that owns La Prairie, gaining significant international expertise. Before his new appointment, he served as General Manager for South Korea, overseeing the development of Beiersdorf’s entire skincare portfolio in the market.
The Honest Company
On February 24, U.S. personal care brand The Honest Company announced the appointment of Etienne von Kunssberg as Senior Vice President of Supply Chain, effective immediately. As the head of the supply chain, von Kunssberg will report directly to CEO Carla Vernón, supporting both the company’s daily operations and long-term strategy to ensure efficient execution.
Carla Vernón, CEO of The Honest Company, stated:
“Etienne is a seasoned supply chain executive with a proven track record of driving efficiency in top global organizations. He is fundamentally a builder and a change-maker, and he shares our passion for delivering clean formulations and sustainable designs guided by our Honest standards. His deep expertise in consumer and personal care products makes him a valuable addition to our already strong supply chain team as we continue to strengthen the Honest brand and support our Honest community.”
Etienne von Kunssberg brings over 20 years of experience in leading transformation and expansion efforts within various organizations. Throughout his career, he has supported some of the world’s most renowned brands, enhancing efficiency, optimizing processes, and driving significant operational changes. He has previously held leadership roles in supply chain management at Dole Packaged Foods and Henkel, and has accumulated extensive experience at P&G and Coty.
Von Kunssberg commented:
“Over the past two years, The Honest Company has undergone an impressive transformation. In today’s rapidly evolving supply chain landscape, doubling down on this area is crucial as the company continues on its growth trajectory. I am excited to return to the personal care sector and apply my supply chain expertise to Honest’s operations.”
Mane Group
French fragrance and flavor supplier Mane Group has appointed Samantha Mane, 40, as the company’s new CEO, succeeding her father Jean Mane, who remains as Chairman. With this appointment, Samantha Mane becomes the first woman to lead the company.
As a fifth-generation member of the Mane family, which founded the company in 1871, Samantha Mane now leads the only remaining large international fragrance and flavor company that is still independently family-owned. She remarked:
“Our independence and family ownership have enabled us to take a long-term vision and make bold choices over the past 154 years. I want to continue building upon the company’s foundation, values, creativity, and high standards—qualities that set us apart—while reinforcing our commitment to environmental sustainability.”
Samantha Mane joined the family business in 2007. In 2016, she took charge of Mane Group’s operations in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA)—the company’s largest market. Under her leadership, the EMEA business more than doubled in sales over the next eight years.
In an official statement, Mane Group praised her for implementing transformative and strategic initiatives, including the launch of the company’s Paris Haute Parfumerie flagship store and the digitalization of operations. “As a forward-thinking leader, Samantha Mane has already devised marketing expansion plans for the rapidly growing economies across the African continent.”
Under her leadership, 20% of the company’s 8,000 employees are dedicated to research and development, driving innovation within Mane Group. The company currently operates 50 R&D centers and 29 production facilities worldwide.
Additionally, Samantha Mane serves as Vice President of Prodarom, the French trade association representing raw material and ingredient manufacturers in the fragrance industry.
Orveon
Beauty brand collective Orveon has confirmed that Neela Montgomery has stepped down as CEO after just over a year in the role. Her successor has yet to be announced. Montgomery had also previously joined Orveon’s board of directors.
Orveon was established in the summer of 2021 when private equity firm Advent International acquired BareMinerals, Laura Mercier, and Buxom from Shiseido Americas for $700 million, forming the new parent company. Pascal Houdayer was initially appointed CEO but stepped down in November 2023, stating that Orveon was exploring acquisitions with a focus on skincare.
Montgomery took over as CEO in January 2024. She has extensive experience in leading, expanding, and transforming consumer businesses across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, with prior leadership roles at CVS Health, Crate & Barrel Holdings, Otto Group, and Tesco PLC. Additionally, she served as a board partner at Greycroft, a leading venture capital firm, where she played a key role in driving digital transformation, global expansion, and fostering diverse and inclusive company cultures.
Caron
Parisian fragrance house Caron has announced the appointment of Louise Turner as its new Perfume Creative Director, succeeding Jean Jacques, the brand’s last in-house perfumer.
Turner is known for her floral compositions, drawing inspiration from the natural beauty and childhood memories of her native Kent, England. She has previously created fragrances for brands including Carolina Herrera, Coach, Chloé, Dries Van Noten, and Ex Nihilo.
Regarding her new role, Turner stated:
“This collaboration not only reignites my passion for fragrance creation but also paves the way for a new wave of creativity. Together, we will blend tradition and innovation, crafting scents that resonate with the brand’s core and soul while pushing the boundaries of perfumery.”
Her first fragrance for Caron is set to launch in fall 2025.
Caron’s General Manager, Hélène Levy, commented:
“Louise Turner is both a consummate professional and a passionate artist. She has brought immense success and boundless creativity to the world of haute parfumerie. She embodies authenticity, rare sincerity, and a deep commitment to her craft. Her work exudes elegance, sensitivity, and innovation, ushering in a bold and avant-garde new era for Caron.”
Founded in 1904 by perfumer Ernest Daltroff and designer Félice Wanpouille, Caron is best known for its iconic fragrances, including Tabac Blond (1919) and Pour Un Homme de Caron (1934), the latter of which remains the brand’s best-selling men’s fragrance.
In 2018, Ariane de Rothschild of the Rothschild family acquired Caron through her Luxembourg-based holding company, Cattleya Finance SA. Her daughter, Olivia de Rothschild, currently serves as the brand’s Artistic Director.
| Sources: Brand websites, executive LinkedIn profiles, Globalcosmeticsnews.com, Market Screener
| Image Credits: Brand websites, executive LinkedIn profiles
| Editor: Jiang Jingjin
