Beauty Industry, People in the News

Coty Appoints 5 New Independent Directors

The new directors are Carsten Fischer, Alia Gogi, Robert Kunze-Concewitz, Maria Carla Liuni, and Stephanie Plaines.

March 19, 2026

Assistant Editor

Coty announced that its Board of Directors (the Board) has appointed five new independent directors as part of a comprehensive Board refreshment.

The new directors are Carsten Fischer, Alia Gogi, Robert Kunze-Concewitz, Maria Carla Liuni, and Stephanie Plaines.

Kunze-Concewitz will serve as Chair of the Board’s Remuneration Committee, and Plaines will serve as Chair of the Board’s Audit and Finance Committee. Fischer has also been named as the Board’s new Lead Independent Director.

Current directors Markus Strobel, Joachim Creus, Frank Engelen, and Patricia Capel will remain on the Board.

Markus Strobel, Executive Chairman of the Board and Interim CEO, said,

“This Board refreshment marks a defining step in Coty’s strategic evolution. We are pleased to welcome an exceptional group of leaders whose experience spans some of the world’s most respected beauty, luxury, and consumer companies. At a time when both the beauty market and Coty are rapidly transforming, these directors bring valuable new perspectives alongside proven expertise in prestige fragrance, global brand building, portfolio transformation, and financial discipline. Together with our existing Board, they will further sharpen our strategic focus, strengthen execution, and drive sustainable value for our shareholders.”

Following his appointment to serve as President of Consumer Beauty at Coty, Gordon von Bretten has decided to step down from the Board.

Beatrice Ballini, Isabelle Parize, and Anna Adeola Makanju have resigned from the Board, effective immediately. Robert (Bob) Singer has resigned from the Board, effective June 30, 2026, and will continue to serve on the Audit and Finance Committee until his departure.

The new directors have held senior leadership roles at Shiseido, Procter & Gamble, Ferrari, Bulgari, Pandora, Campari Group, Starbucks, Walmart, and Sephora.

Collectively, they bring decades of leadership experience across prestige beauty, luxury, and global consumer brands, with deep expertise in fragrances and color cosmetics, global brand building, digital commerce, financial leadership, and large-scale business transformation.