Just turned 40, Ségolène Moyrand-Gros is taking over the presidency of the family group Gattefossé. She represents the 5th generation and succeeds her father Jacques Moyrand, who headed Gattefossé for 25 years and accelerated the development of the group, providing it the international dimension it enjoys today.
This decision starts a new chapter in the group’s history, which began 140 years ago. On May 18th, 2021, the Board of Directors approved this well-prepared decision.
“After many years as president of Gattefossé, the time has come for me to step back. And it is with great confidence and optimism that I hand over the family torch to Ségolène. She has demonstrated the skills and qualities that one would expect of a president and I know that she is well supported by our management team. Together with Eduardo de Purgly, Chief Executive Officer, they form a strong tandem. A new page is opening for Gattefossé, under the sign of youth and femininity,” says Jacques Moyrand, who remains close to the company through his position on the Board of Directors.
A solid experience
With a master’s degree from ESCE International Business School, and a specialization in industrial marketing at IAE Lille, France, Ségolène joined the group in 2006, after several internships in major companies. She enriched her career by obtaining an Executive MBA at EM Lyon, France, which enabled her to join the Group’s Board of Directors in 2013. First holding a position in international marketing, then Group Communication Manager, she developed an in-depth knowledge of the company, its products, customers, and teams. In 2019, she joined the Management Executive Committee and is responsible for CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) for the entire group.
Following in her father’s footsteps, but also in those of her great-grandmother Blanche Gattefossé, who presided the company for nearly 20 years, Ségolène wants to leave her imprint on the history of the company, while continuing the momentum that has already been achieved: “It is with a lot of pride, determination and enthusiasm that I have accepted this position. I wish to continue the success story written by my predecessors, whose talent and personality have made the company what it is today. Gattefossé has both the potential and the means to forge a brilliant future. It is also a human adventure, as underlined by our tagline “People Make Our Name”, that characterizes our company. My ambition for Gattefossé is to achieve sustainable and responsible growth.”
An opportune moment to operate a change in governance
Despite the upheaval that the pandemic has caused for many companies, Gattefossé has succeeded in improving its level of activity, supported by the commitment of its customers and teams around the world. The group has been growing steadily for two decades, reaching a turnover of €116 million in 2020, well balanced between the company’s two markets, pharmaceuticals and personal care.
“We are lucky to operate in stable and complementary markets, which have been globally spared from the crisis. We believe that this stability and growth will continue, allowing Ségolène and me to build our collaboration in the best possible conditions. The 10 years I have worked with Jacques have been rich and it is an honor to continue this family adventure with Ségolène”, says Eduardo de Purgly, Chief Executive Officer of the group.
Great perspectives to come
After launching its latest cosmetic active Elevastin™ in April, Gattefossé is preparing to launch three products for the pharmaceutical market. At the same time, the group is pursuing its international development and is building a new production site in Texas, USA. To support its development, Gattefossé plans to continue reinforcing its teams at its headquarters in Lyon, France, and internationally.
