Maker of women's beauty care products under Garnier and Maybelline, L’Oréal India has roped in an Indian to head its operations, for the first time since it set up base in the country in 1991. The current managing director of paint maker AkzoNobel's north and west Europe region, Jain will take charge as Managing Director on August 1. Presently located in Amsterdam, he will replace Jean-Christophe Letellier, who is set to move to a larger role in the L’Oréal Groupe in Europe.
Jain began his career as a management trainee in a then Kolkata headquartered subsidiary of UK's ICI Group. An 11 years stint at Coca-Cola later saw him quickly move up the ladder to finish as a vice-president for its north and east India region. After spending close to three years in Viacom, Jain moved back to his first company, now AkzoNobel India, as the MD in June 2009. Five years into the role, he was moved to Netherland to expand AkzoNobel's decorative coating business in countries like France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Norway, Sweden and Denmark.
Pierre-Yves Arzel, Vice President, South Asia Pacific Zone, L’Oréal said, “Amit's rich global experience with a deep understanding of India, transformational leadership skills and inclusive personality will be an important asset in further developing L’Oréal's business in India. His mission is to build on our rich talent base and global brands, to make L’Oréal India an engine for growth in Asia.” Jain, who will also look after L’Oreal’s businesses in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal, will report to Arzel. Currently the third largest player in the Rs 811 billion Indian personal care space, L’Oréal is expected to gain from Jain's expertise on distribution and brand promotion that includes his active role in Coke launching 200 ml glass bottles in the early 2000s.
