L’Oréal Names Chief Innovation and Prospective Officer

L’Oréal appointed Delphine Viguier-Hovasse chief innovation and prospective officer, a new position. She starts July 1. Viguier-Hovasse is global brand president of L’Oréal Paris.

In this role, she reports to Barbara Lavernos, L’Oréal deputy CEO in charge of research, innovation and technology. Viguier-Hovasse will join the group’s executive committee, too.

“This new role builds on L’Oréal’s long track record in innovation and has been established to further strengthen its leadership within the dynamic and fast-evolving beauty landscape,” L’Oréal said. “This position will oversee both the existing innovation teams and the strategic prospective department, to ensure a holistic and future-focused approach to beauty innovation.”

Viguier-Hovasse, an engineer, joined L’Oréal in 1997. She became the first female head of L’Oréal Paris in 2019.

A Track Record of Innovation

In 2019, she made history as the first woman to lead the L’Oréal Paris brand at a global level.  Under her guidance, L’Oréal Paris experienced impressive growth, solidifying its position as the world’s leading beauty brand. This success was fueled by her ability to bring new game-changing innovations to market like Elsève Glycolic Gloss and Panorama Mascara.

Viguier-Hovasse consistently finds innovative ways to express and amplify the essence of the L’Oréal Paris brand and engage with audiences. This includes impactful events, like “Le Défilé” at Paris Fashion Week and participation at the Cannes Film Festival.

“I am delighted to appoint Delphine as the Group’s first-ever Chief Innovation & Prospective Officer. Her exceptional track record of innovation and her strategic vision make her ideally suited to elevate our company’s innovation to new heights,” said CEO Nicolas Hieronimus. “Her forward-thinking approach and deep understanding of the evolving beauty landscape will help us write the next chapter of the L’Oréal adventure.”

Under Viguier-Hovasse’s leadership, the brand strengthened its commitment to female empowerment, culminating in the Stand-Up program against street harassment. Stand-Up trained nearly three million people worldwide. Her leadership drives business growth and fosters a culture of excellence and inspired a new generation of talent, according to L’Oréal.