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Alessandro Michele surrounds himself for success at Valentino. A week after the designer was named creative director of the Italian house, L’Oréal, which owns Valentino’s beauty license, announced a new president at Valentino Beauty, Claudia Marcocci. Her appointment is effective 6 May.
Marcocci collaborated with Michele on Gucci Beauty, whose license is held by Coty, during the years of Gucci’s meteoric rise. She joined Coty as global vice president in 2016 and soon became senior vice president of Gucci Beauty in 2017. She most notably oversaw the launch of its makeup line and cult Bloom fragrance. She left in 2019 to join LVMH as chief marketing officer and general brand director of Dior Beauty, managing the fragrance, makeup, skincare and spa categories.
“Claudia is a great specialist in luxury couture, a charismatic and inspiring leader, renowned for building a collaborative and highly innovative team spirit. It is also a delightful detail for Valentino that she was born in Rome,” L’Oréal Luxe president Cyril Chapuy wrote in an internal note seen by Vogue Business.
The appointment of Michele’s trusted collaborator at L’Oréal suggests that he has already secured guarantees as well as a great deal of autonomy at Valentino. The designer is well known for his omnipotent character.
At Gucci, Michele was heavily involved in the beauty category, ensuring his vision extended beyond fashion. This reshuffle offers a strong opportunity for Valentino Beauty, which is already witnessing explosive growth. According to the internal note, sales rose from €30 million when L’Oréal acquired the license in 2018 from Puig to a projected €500 million in 2024, notably led by blockbuster fragrance Born in Roma.
Marcocci succeeds Garance Delaye, who will become president of Aesop’s international marketing division in London.
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