Philip Shearer is to take over as president of the management board of Clarins in early May and will replace Christian Courtin-Clarins who will however continue at the head of the supervisory board. The change will be subject to the approval of shareholders at the company's May AGM.
Shearer is said to have joined the group "discreetly" in March this year as executive vp. The changeover parallels that undertaken by Serge Rosinoer between 1998 and 2000 between Jacques and Christian Courtin. Meanwhile, Olivier Christian-Courtin, Christian's younger brother, will retain his functions as the board's director general.
Shearer started his career with Eli Lilly-Arden in France, Mexico and the US before becoming president of the luxury products division of L'Oréal in the US and Japan. Between 2001 and 2007 he was one of the directors of the Estée Lauder group in New York when it was reported - by Bloomberg - that his salary was about $4.6m.
Following the death of the president and founder of Clarins, Jacques Courtin-Clarins, in March last year, the group has been seeking to relaunch itself, notably in the US market. Shearer's background matches this strategy.