Event report

Meet The CEO with L'Oréal East Africa

Mehmet Karamollaoglu - Country Managing Director for L'Oréal East Africa

Today's "Meet the CEO" breakfast meeting, in partnership with our Founding Member L'OrĂ©al East Africa, was a morning of insightful discussions on the future of beauty and social responsibility. Mehmet Karamollaoglu, Country Managing Director for L'OrĂ©al East Africa, gave us a glimpse into L'OrĂ©al’s dedication to ethical beauty, women’s empowerment, and sustainability.

With over 1.2 billion users in Africa, L'OrĂ©al’s initiatives, such as the Empower Mama project and Lintons Academy, are creating pathways to economic independence for women in Kenya. As Mehmet emphasized, L'OrĂ©al is committed to “beauty with purpose”—transforming lives while respecting the planet.

Here are some key takeaways from Mehmet’s vibrant presentation:

1. Beauty with Purpose: With a mission to create beauty that moves the world, L'OrĂ©al’s approach centers on responsibility and ethics, whether through sustainable product development, ethical sourcing, or impactful community programs.

2. Innovative Testing Technologies: L'OrĂ©al has moved away from animal testing, using groundbreaking artificial human skin to ensure safe, precise results—an innovation that reinforces their commitment to ethical science.

3. Empowering Local Communities: Programs like Empower Mama are transforming lives by training young single mothers as makeup artists and creating job opportunities for them at Maybelline New York stores across Kenya. Additionally, the recently launched Lintons Academy and Pro Hair School empower local women by offering professional training in hairstyling and beauty.

4. Strong Sustainability Commitments: Under the L’OrĂ©al for the Future program, the company has ambitious targets like reaching carbon neutrality across all sites by 2025, reducing plastic usage, and supporting climate-friendly practices. Their CSR efforts also focus on empowering women in science and creating sustainable job opportunities for underprivileged communities.

5. Broad Market Reach: With four distinct divisions—Consumer Products, L'OrĂ©al Luxe, Professional Products, and Active Cosmetics—L'OrĂ©al caters to a wide range of beauty needs, reflecting the brand's dedication to inclusivity and diversity in East Africa.

6. Battling Counterfeit Products: Recognizing the prevalence of fake products, Mehmet Karamollaoglu emphasized the need to purchase your L'Oréal products from trusted sources like pharmacies to ensure access to genuine products, with legal measures in place to protect brand integrity.

Thank you to everyone who attended and to Mehmet for leading such an engaging session! L'OrĂ©al’s dedication to social impact, innovation, and ethical beauty is a testament to what’s possible when purpose meets business.

More News

Share this page Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linkedin