PARIS — In yet another clear sign that Korean beauty keeps building momentum abroad, Thierry Maman has been charged running AmorePacific Group’s European operations.
The former global president of Parfums Givenchy is now president of Pacific Creations France, a subsidiary of AmorePacific, which includes Annick Goutal, Lolita Lempicka and the Comité Vendôme. He is also charged with developing AmorePacific-owned skin-care brands such as Hera, Sulwhasoo and La Neige in Europe.
The executive succeeds Rémi Clero in the post.
Maman had been at LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton-owned Parfums Givenchy since December 2009. Prior to that, between June 2008 and November 2009, he was commercial managing director of Le Bon Marché. The executive served as chief executive officer of Berluti from November 2001 to May 2008, and as vice president of marketing at Coty Inc.’s Lancaster between 1996 and 2001.
Maman joined L’Oréal in 1987 after receiving a degree from HEC Paris.
He started at AmorePacific on Aug. 24.
AmorePacific Group is South Korea’s largest beauty company. In the most recent WWD Beauty Inc Top 100 ranking of manufacturers in the sector, the Seoul-based firm ranked fourteenth. In 2014 it registered beauty sales of KRW 4.47 trillion, or $4.47 billion, up 21.2 percent on-year. The company attributed the revenue increase to the strong performance of Sulwhasoo, Laneige, Mamonde, Innisfree and Etude in overseas markets, where sales were up 32 percent.
Korea’s perception as a technological innovator — the country launched the BB Cream craze — and its celebrity influence is helping its beauty business boom, especially in the midrange market.
Korean beauty brands have swiftly been gaining interest in the U.S., for instance, where brands including BRTC, Belif, Touch in Sol and The Skin Lounge were recently introduced.
