Paris – Richard Pinabel is Armani Beauty’s new global brand president.
The executive, who has 25 years of beauty experience, takes over the role from Véronique Gauthier. As previously reported, she left the brand after leading it for 13 years.
“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Véronique for her tremendous contribution,” Cyril Chapouis, president of L’Oréal Luxe, a licensee of Armani Beauty, said in a statement. “Her leadership skills and her deep understanding of the luxury industry have been truly valuable to the success of Armani Her Beauty.”
Gauthier worked closely with Giorgio Armani, introducing products such as Ci, a fragrance long produced by Cate Blanchett, and enhancing Armani’s masculine fragrance franchises Acqua di Gio and Code. .
The executive further expanded Armani Beauty’s makeup footprint, leading the brand’s strong international growth in Asia, Europe and the United States, and driving overall business growth threefold during her tenure.
“I am confident that Richard Pinabel will be able to protect and nurture the brand’s great heritage and amazing achievements, and take Giorgio Armani’s vision of beauty to new heights,” Chapuis added.
Pinabel’s career includes global and market roles. His career began with a focus on fragrances at Armani His Beauty and then went on to spearhead the successful launch of Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf in the US from 2006.
His next jobs included marketing director at Ralph Lauren, and in 2008 he took on general management positions at Victor & Rolf, Maison Margiela, Stella McCartney, Boucheron and Zegna.
The executive relocated to Asia in 2012, becoming general manager of YSL Japan and later serving as global president of Shu Uemura. Returning to Europe, Pinabel became Lancôme’s global deputy general manager in 2020.
Armani’s appointment brought him full circle.
“Armani beauty represents sophisticated and timeless elegance and is a major player in the beauty industry,” Pinabel commented. “I approach this opportunity with humility and passion. I look forward to working with Giorgio and his visionary leadership of Armani towards the future success of the brand.”