L’Oréal USA has announced that Karen Fondu, president of L’Oréal USA, will retire, following a remarkable 37-year career at L’Oréal.

“Karen Fondu is a highly dedicated and passionate professional who has devoted her entire career to L’Oréal,” said Jean-Paul Agon, chairman and CEO of L’Oréal. “Her strategic vision and expert knowledge of building brands and infusing them with inspiration and ambition has made her one of the most recognized and admired professionals in the beauty industry. I want to honor with respect, admiration and affection a very great lady of the L’Oréal organization and wish Karen every happiness and success in this new life that lies ahead of her.”
 
Fondu is credited for having been a prime figure in leading L’Oréal’s growth and success in the U.S. market. In 1979, she began her L’Oréal career as a sales representative selling hair colorants before progressing rapidly in the company. In 1992, she became VP sales of L’Oréal cosmetics division, which included L’Oréal Paris and later, Maybelline, where she played an important role in the integration of this new acquisition into the L’Oréal Group and its ascent to the No. 1 position in the U.S. In 2002, she became president, Maybelline New York/Garnier, and then president of L’Oréal Paris USA in 2008.
 
Ikdeep Singh will replace Fondu as general manager for L’Oréal Paris USA. He has served as the president of L’Oréal Canada’s Consumer Products Division since 2014, prior to which he held key roles at P&G.