French cosmetics retailer Sephora has a new CEO. Parent company LVMH announced that Guillaume Motte has been appointed president and CEO of Sephora, as the beauty retailer continues to expand internationally.
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He moves over from LVMH’s fashion group, where he has served as deputy chief executive under chairman and CEO Sidney Toledano since May 2021.
Prior to that, Motte served as president of Sephora Europe and Middle East, beginning March 2018. Before joining Sephora, he was CEO of French menswear chain Celio for three years.
Motte replaces Chris de Lapuente, who has been in the role since former CEO Martin Brok made an unexpected departure from Sephora in June. Brok only joined the beauty retailer in September 2020.
De Lapuente will continue his position as chairman and CEO of the LVMH’s selective retailing division, which includes Sephora; Parisian department store, Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche; luxury travel retailer, DFS; cruise ship shopping destination, Starboard Cruise Services; and fine foods store, La Grande Épicerie.
“I am delighted to welcome Guillaume back to Sephora as president and CEO. His experiences over the past two years in LVMH fashion group, alongside Sidney Toledano, have broadened his prestige brand building experience and deepened his already extensive retail and business skills at a global level,” said de Lapuente.
“I have no doubt he will continue to build Sephora into the extraordinary premium beauty retailer we envision.”
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Sephora has a presence in 35 countries and has more than 2,700 stores. In June, Sephora launched its ‘China Accelebrate’ business incubator program which aims to grow premium Chinese beauty brands.
Looking ahead, the retailer has expansion plans for Latin America and Asia.