Jean-Paul Agon, born on July 6, 1956, is the current Chairman and CEO of L’Oréal, a position he has held since March 17, 2011. He graduated from HEC Paris in 1978, one of France’s most prestigious business schools.
Agon joined L’Oréal immediately after completing his studies, beginning his career in the Consumer Products Division in France as a product manager at the age of 24. By 1981, he was appointed Managing Director of L’Oréal Greece, where he laid the foundation for what became a strong and sustainable market presence. In 1985, he returned to France to lead L’Oréal Paris, overseeing a range of successful product launches such as Studio Line, Plénitude and Elsève, all of which became central to the company’s brand identity in the mass market.
In 1989, Agon was named International General Manager of Biotherm. Under his leadership, the brand was repositioned with an international profile, gaining broader consumer appeal across multiple regions. In 1994, he was assigned to L’Oréal Germany, where he navigated one of the group’s largest European markets through a challenging period marked by stagnating growth and increased competition.
His global experience deepened further in 1997 when he was entrusted with the creation and leadership of L’Oréal Asia during a time of regional economic crisis. He spearheaded the establishment of new subsidiaries across key countries, ramped up investment in local infrastructure, and led the recruitment of a new generation of regional talent—laying the groundwork for L’Oréal’s long-term expansion across Asia.
As CEO, Agon introduced a new global marketing approach centered on “universalization,” a strategy he defines as making beauty available to everyone, everywhere. This philosophy underpins L’Oréal’s ambition to reach one billion new customers by 2020, particularly in developing countries. His strategic focus aligns long-term growth with diversification of the customer base and adaptation to local markets without compromising brand identity.
Jean-Paul Agon is also a vocal advocate for corporate social responsibility. He has emphasized that environmental and social performance must stand on equal footing with financial results. Under his leadership, L’Oréal committed to halving its CO₂ emissions, water consumption, and waste production over a ten-year period. This ambition was formally consolidated in the company’s global sustainability roadmap, unveiled in 2013.
Agon’s tenure represents not only a continuation of L’Oréal’s growth trajectory but also a deep redefinition of its role as a corporate citizen. His leadership bridges market expansion with a commitment to sustainability and ethical responsibility, setting standards for the global beauty industry.