Coty sets up international fragrance unit in London

Fragrance and cosmetics group Coty is to establish a new international mass market fragrance team in London headed by Coty worldwide marketer Mylena Pierremont.

The news comes as Coty – whose brands include the Exclamation, L’Aimant and Adidas fragrances and Rimmel, Sensiq and Cutex make-up ranges – is tipped on Wall Street to buy all or part of Revlon.

The new Coty fragrance team will be built on top of an existing Paris-based fragrance development group who will be relocated to London.

Coty worldwide senior vice president for international marketing Pierremont is based in Paris and is thought to be coming to the UK to run the team.

Pierremont moved to her present position after a stint as Coty UK general manager. She joined the company in 1995 from Spanish sister company Cosmeticos Astor.

It is understood that the position of Coty UK marketing director for fragrances Michael Simpson is unaffected by the new team.

A source close to the company says the new team will be as active in developing and marketing new fragrances as the company’s US arm.

Coty, owned by Dutch holding company Benckiser, sees mass market fragrances as a growth area with body sprays and male grooming products becoming popular.

In 1996 Coty attempted to buy Maybelline which was eventually bought by L’Oreal.