Kering has hired Raffaella Cornaggia as CEO of Kering Beauté, its new unit that will develop “beauty expertise” for luxury brands Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Pomellato and Qeelin.

Based in Paris and reporting to Jean-François Palus, group managing director of Cornaggia  will be a member of the group's executive committee.

The creation of Kering Beauté is a natural extension of the brand’s universe, according to the company.

“I am delighted to welcome Raffaella Cornaggia, who brings us considerable experience in a segment that we see as strategically important for our Houses,” Palus, said in a statement. “We are building this new area of expertise within our Group to ensure that our brands can fulfill their potential in this category.”

Cornaggia has more 25 years of experience in beauty, spanning three continents, in multiple channels. She began her career at L'Oréal where she occupied various roles for 10 years in Italy and in France, before joining Chanel Parfums Beauté as global vice president, marketing makeup. In 2008, she joined Estée Lauder Companies at the time of the creation of its EMEA region to lead the marketing for Estée Lauder and Tom Ford Beauty, based in Paris. She then moved to Asia where she was appointed senior director, brand development for Estée Lauder and Tom Ford Beauty, and later promoted VP and GM for MAC Cosmetics in the region. In 2017, she spearheaded the development of the travel retail business worldwide for Estée Lauder and Aerin, as SVP and GM, based in New York. She then became international SVP and GM for the brands in 2020, responsible for worldwide business outside of the US and Canada.