It will be double-duty for Alexandre Popoff, the current general manager of L’Oréal’s Eastern Europe zone, who will also head the Africa-Middle East zone as of June 1. He will take over from Geoff Skingsley, general manager of Africa-Middle East zone. Skingsley will be heading back to his home country for an appointment as non- executive chairman of L’Oréal UK and Ireland.
 
Under the leadership of Alexandre Popoff, L’Oréal says the two geographical zones will retain their specificities in terms of structure and operating account while benefiting from a critical size in relation to the Divisions and central services.
 
Both men are long-time seasoned L’Oréal executives.
 
Popoff joined L’Oréal in 1989 as product manager for LaSCAD. In 1993, he was named marketing coordinator for Garnier and Gemey covering Europe’s four key countries. In 1995, he became managing director for L’Oréal Paris in Portugal, and then managing director of the Consumer Products Division in Russia. He became managing director of LaSCAD in 1999, and then of the Consumer Products Division for France in 2004. He was subsequently appointed managing director for the Africa Orient Pacific Zone, initially for the Consumer Products Division and later for L’Oréal’s four divisions. In 2010, he joined L’Oréal’s Executive Committee as managing director for Latin America, Africa and the Middle East, before focusing on the management of the Latin America Zone in January 2012. In July 2013, he became executive vice-president Eastern Europe Zone.
 
Skingsley joined L’Oréal Paris marketing in the UK in 1986 before being named general manager of the Consumer Products Division in The Netherlands. Subsequently, he enjoyed two different experiences as Country Manager, first for India and then for the United Kingdom. He was appointed executive vice president of human resources based in Paris and held the role for seven years. In September 2011, he became general manager of the Africa-Middle East zone. According to L’Oréal, Skingsley has strongly contributed to the company’s growth in terms of business and building highly qualified multicultural teams.