Richemont Launches Perfume and Beauty Division, Bolsters Leadership Team
Richemont, the Swiss luxury conglomerate renowned for its ownership of esteemed brands such as Cartier, Piaget, and Chloé, is making strategic strides into the beauty industry. In line with competitors like France’s Kering and Italy’s Dolce & Gabbana, Richemont has unveiled a new entity named ‘Laboratoire de Haute Parfumerie et Beauté’. This strategic move is designed to fortify its presence in the fiercely competitive fragrance and beauty sector.
Leading this new division is Boet Brinkgreve, a seasoned professional with an impressive three-decade career spanning the chemicals, fragrances, and flavors industries across the United States, China, and Europe. Boet Brinkgreve, holding a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Eindhoven/HTS Den Bosch in the Netherlands and a master’s degree in business administration from Insead in France, has been appointed as the CEO of ‘Laboratoire de Haute Parfumerie et Beauté’.
Brinkgreve’s extensive background includes holding prominent positions at DSM – Firmenich from 2007 to 2023, culminating in his role as President of the group’s Ingredients and Purchasing division. Prior to that, he was engaged in business development roles at DuPont from 2003 to 2007 and has also founded several successful companies.
Richemont’s strategic appointment of Brinkgreve to spearhead their entry into the beauty industry has stirred industry-wide discussions, including among key players like Interparfums. Notably, Interparfums holds perfume licenses for two of Richemont’s flagship brands, Montblanc and Van Cleef & Arpels, and experienced fluctuations in its share price on the Paris stock exchange following the announcement.
According to Richemont, this newly established entity will work closely with its brands while preserving their unique high-end positioning. The primary objective is to support them in crafting exquisite creations and exploring promising licensing opportunities. Among Richemont’s brands engaged in fragrance production are Cartier, Dunhill, Alaïa, and Chloé, in addition to Montblanc and Van Cleef & Arpels, which hold particular significance.
Richemont Chairman Johann Rupert commented on Brinkgreve’s appointment, stating, «Boet’s role will be pivotal in enabling our houses to maximize their potential in this dynamic market, expanding their customer base while enhancing their ability to meet the demands of their discerning clientele. With his profound understanding of the fragrance industry, his track record of success in leading new ventures, his remarkable experience in building successful international teams, and his commitment to sourcing sustainable ingredients, I have full confidence that Boet will be a substantial asset to the Group.»
In addition to these strategic developments, Richemont has made notable changes to its leadership team. Swen Grundmann has been promoted to Director of Corporate Affairs, complementing his existing role as Corporate Secretary. Having joined Richemont in 1996 as a legal adviser, Grundmann boasts a wealth of experience in law and corporate governance spanning twenty-seven years.
Furthermore, Gary Saage, previously Richemont’s Chief Financial Officer from 2010 to 2016, has joined the board of directors and is expected to lead the Audit Committee.
These significant appointments and the creation of the beauty division underscore Richemont’s unwavering commitment to expanding its presence in the luxury and beauty industries.
