Yesterday, according to media, Kering Beauté has appointed seasoned beauty executive Nathalie Berger-Duquene as chief executive officer of Creed, effective May 6. Her arrival follows the departure of Sarah Rotheram at the end of October, after which Kering Beauté CEO Raffaella Cornaggia temporarily stepped in to oversee the luxury fragrance house.
Berger-Duquene is tasked with leading the next phase of growth for Creed, a high-potential brand that has become a strategic asset in Kering’s emerging beauty portfolio. She will be based in London, report directly to Cornaggia, and join the executive committee of Kering Beauté.
She brings more than two decades of experience in the beauty industry, having most recently served as global general brand manager for Balmain Beauty at The Estée Lauder Companies. Her career began at Guerlain, followed by leadership roles at L’Oréal across brands such as Biotherm, Helena Rubinstein, and Lancôme. She was later named general manager for fragrances at L’Oréal Luxe France, before moving to Lauder in 2019 to head Tom Ford Beauty and Kilian Paris in EMEA, eventually becoming SVP of global marketing at Tom Ford Beauty.
Berger-Duquene takes the helm of Creed less than a year after Kering acquired the niche fragrance house in a deal valued at approximately $3.8 billion. The acquisition, announced in June 2023, marked Kering’s first major move in its push to establish a standalone beauty division.
Founded in 1760 by James Henry Creed, the house has long been known for its artisanal approach to fragrance-making, including traditional infusion techniques used at its Fontainebleau factory near Paris. Bestsellers like Aventus, Viking, and Green Irish Tweed have earned Creed a cult following, particularly in the men’s fragrance space. In recent months, the brand has expanded its feminine offerings with the launches of Carmina and Queen of Silk.
In 2024, Creed generated over €300 million in sales, driven in large part by strong U.S. performance. “It’s a brand with much greater potential than that,” said Jean-Marc Duplaix, Kering’s deputy CEO in charge of operations and finance, during a February press conference. “There’s a lot of demand for unique fragrances, and that’s really Creed’s proposition.”
