In order to monitor corporate sustainability commitments more closely, major players in the hair and beauty industry are updating their management structures to create new duties and responsibilities: the Chief Sustainability Officer.
One of the first to create a Chief Sustainability Officer position was L’Oréal USA, which has recently appointed Marissa Pagnani McGowan (in the picture) to the role for North America; a position which will be effective from November 2021.
Marissa Pagani McGowan comes to L’Oréal from PVH Corp, one of the world’s largest global apparel companies, where she most recently served as chief sustainability officer. She will report to L’Oréal USA president and CEO Stéphane Rinderknech, who oversees L’Oréal‘s North America zone. She will also join the US management committee and the leadership team of L’Oréal‘s global chief corporate responsibility officer, Alexandra Palt.
The company’s 10-year sustainability transformation strategy, “L’Oréal for the Future”, represents two complementary dimensions of corporate responsibility: transformation of the company into an increasingly sustainable business model, and contribution to solving the challenges facing the world.
“Marissa brings to her sustainability work a passion for the power of partnerships and collective action. – says Stéphane Rinderknech – She has an impressive track record of building sustainable business platforms and embedding sustainability principles into every part of a business. We aim to drive a complete transformation of our business—to be a leader and catalyst of change in the beauty sector and beyond. I firmly believe that we must act with even more urgency to address the social and environmental needs of the planet while preparing our business to meet the opportunities of our dynamic market.”
McGowan declared: “I am excited and honoured to join L’Oréal, a company that I have long admired for its rich history and continued growth through keeping innovation, the consumer and responsibility at the centre of its business. My passion for the beauty industry, like the fashion sector, stems from its humanity and creativity, which together create a powerful opportunity to influence positive change. I look forward to stewarding the sustainability work as part of L’Oréal USA’s next growth chapter, and to driving meaning progress on the L’Oréal for the Future’s transformation journey.”
