Jean-Paul Agon

Jean-Paul Agon (born 6 July 1956) is the chairman and former CEO of the international cosmetic company, L'Oréal. Because of the age limit of 65 set by the company, he was replaced in his role of CEO by Nicolas Hieronimus on 1 May 2021, while remaining chairman of the board. He graduated from HEC Paris in 1978. Early career Agon joined L’Oréal in 1978 after completing his studies at the HEC International Business School. He has spent his entire career in prominent sales and marketing positions across several markets with the company. He started as a product manager for the Consumer Products division in France when he was 24 years old and then in 1981 was appointed General Manager of L'Oréal Greece, where he laid the foundations of a solid business. In 1985, he returned to France as General Manager of L'Oreal Paris, where he oversaw a number of key launches and successes, including Studio Line, Plénitude and Elsève. In 1989, he became International Managing Director for Biotherm, remodeling and endowing the brand with international appeal. In 1994, he became managing director of L'Oréal Germany, where he played a key role in dealing with issues related to European markets, at the time suffering a slowdown in growth. In 1997, he was entrusted with the task of setting up and heading the L'Oreal Asia Zone in the midst of an economic crisis. He created subsidiaries in a number of countries, stepped up investment and recruited a new generation of local talent. From 2001 to Present In 2001, Agon was named President of L'Oréal USA. He was instrumental in launching the Garnier Fructis line.