Kao Corporation promotes Michael Cramer to VP Professional Hair and Consumer Care Business EMEA

Michael Cramer will be responsible for strengthening Japanese beauty giant Kao Corporation’s portfolio in the EMEA region, which includes hair care line John Frieda and skin care brand Bioré

Kao Corporation has promoted Michael Cramer to VP of its Professional Hair and Consumer Care Business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

He is responsible for strengthening the Japanese beauty giant's portfolio in the region, which includes hair care line John Frieda, skin care brand Bioré and fragrance brand Molton Brown.

Cramer joined Kao Corporation as Sales Director in 2006, where he served in the role for four-and-a-half years.

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He would return to Kao EMEA & Americas in 2016 as Head of Managing Directors working in the role for six years until 2022, when he was named VP Consumer Care, EMEA.

Cosmetics Business has contacted Kao Corporation for a comment.

Cramer’s appointment follows Kao Corporation targeting growth in Europe with the expansion of its skin care brand Curél in the Nordics in September.

Curél will be available in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland at beauty retailers including Kicks and Mata.

The science-backed skin care brand also entered Germany and France in 2025, followed by the Netherlands in May 2026.

The move strengthens Kao Corporation's skin care portfolio in Europe and “reflects the company’s broader cosmetics growth strategy”, the company said in a statement at the time.

Kao Corporation is targeting sales growth for Curél of 1.6 times the 2024 level by 2030 and aims to raise the share of the brand's overseas sales to around 50%.