Véronique Gautier steps down as global president

Véronique Gautier, global president of Armani Beauty since 2010, has announced she is stepping down from the role and leaving the L’Oréal Group, which has held the Italian label’s beauty products’ licence since 1988.

“Time has come to say goodbye to 13 years as president of Armani Beauty at L’Oréal, after 40 years in the industry. I cannot open this new adventure without thanking all my former ‘compagnons de route’ and mentors,” posted Gautier on her LinkedIn account.

Gautier began her business career at Chanel’s beauty division in 1984. In 1988, she joined Catalan group Puig to work on the Paco Rabanne fragrances, then left for Cartier, where she was in charge of fragrance marketing. Between 2000 and 2008, Gautier was at Hermès, first as CEO of fragrances and then of leather goods. In September 2008, she was appointed president of Jean Paul Gaultier, and two years later she joined L’Oréal. In her LinkedIn post, she notably paid tribute to Giorgio Armani, with whom she worked for several years. Gautier has now founded her own consulting firm.

In 2018, L’Oréal and Armani renewed their licensing agreement until 2050. Armani Beauty is part of the L’Oréal Group’s luxury division. It commercialises perfumes, among them Si, skincare and make-up products, and is one of L’Oréal’s billion-euro licences.