Markus Strobel, a seasoned P&G beauty executive, will become executive chairman of the board and interim CEO of Coty Inc. effective January 1, 2026.

The announcement puts an end to the speculation about Sue Nabi’s departure which had been swirling in recent weeks.

Strobel joins Coty after a distinguished 33-year career at Procter & Gamble, where he most recently served as president of P&G’s Global Skin & Personal Care business, which included a multi-billion-dollar portfolio of more than 12 global brands.

Strobel retired from P&G in 2024.

Strobel’s P&G Tenure

Strobel is widely recognized for driving category and organizational transformation across P&G Beauty and for revitalizing SK-II into a leading prestige skincare brand in Asia. During his tenure, Strobel held senior roles across beauty and grooming spanning fine fragrance, hair care, and grooming. This included leading prestige brands such as Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino and Hugo Boss as part of his fragrance assignment. Strobel also spearheaded modernization of innovation, product supply, marketing and go-to-market strategies and operating capabilities across North America, Greater China, Japan, Korea and Europe for his businesses.

“I am delighted to join Coty at this important juncture. Building on Coty’s strong foundations, I see tremendous potential to accelerate growth, strengthen our position in prestige and mass beauty, and deliver sustainable value for shareholders, partners, and consumers worldwide,” he said in a press statement.

Harf’s Retirement

Strobel succeeds Peter Harf, who will retire from Coty’s board after more than three decades of service.

Harf’s leadership helped shape Coty into a global beauty leader.  

Nabi’s Tenure

Nabi oversaw the launch of several blockbuster fragrances, including Burberry Goddess, and materially reduced Coty’s financial net leverage to ~3x, according to a statement from Coty.

Nabi was CEO for five years.