US giant Coty has announced a significant leadership change just as the company faces several strategic and financial challenges. As of January 1, 2026, Markus Strobel, a company veteran with over three decades at Procter & Gamble, will take on the role of interim CEO and executive chairman of the board, succeeding Sue Nabi, who leaves the helm after five years leading the company.
Strobel is not just any Coty executive: she comes with a solid track record in business transformation and global brand leadership, having headed the global skincare and personal care division at P&G and driven luxury franchises in Asia and other regions. Her appointment reflects the crucial moment Coty is experiencing, with a strategic review underway of its consumer beauty division aimed at refocusing priorities and strengthening its results.
The departure of Sue Nabi, who took over Coty's leadership in 2020 with the mission to modernize the company and strengthen its profile in the prestige market, occurs in a context of declining sales in some segments, competitive pressure in mass beauty, and a drop in stock value. Under her tenure, Coty achieved successes such as the launch of high-impact fragrances and significantly reduced net debt, although some commercial objectives remained unfulfilled
In addition to the change in the CEO position, there is the retirement of Peter Harf, a historic figure linked to Coty for over thirty years, marking the end of an era in the company. The management reorganization goes hand in hand with the company's desire to redefine its strategic direction, optimize its portfolio, and improve its competitiveness, especially in segments where demand is rapidly evolving
In a statement, Strobel affirmed that he sees "enormous potential to accelerate growth, strengthen our position in both prestige and mass beauty, and deliver sustainable value to consumers, partners, and shareholders," underscoring that Coty is at a key inflection point for its future.
This leadership change is interpreted in the sector as a sign that Coty wants to remain agile and strategic in the face of global challenges, from portfolio integration to responding to changes in consumer habits.