Interview - Philipe Lesné - Perfume & Cosmetics Group

Dear alumni,

We are pleased to feature our distinguished alumni, Philippe Lesné, President & CEO TravelRetail for Shiseido Group.

In this interview for the IFM Alumni Perfumes and Cosmetics by Béatrice Ferrié, Philippe shares with us what he haslearnedin his experience and gives us his vision for the future.

Philippe Lesné (IFM Management 1993) is a graduate of Audencia Graduate School of Business, and he obtained the Specialized Master’s of Management from Institut Français de la Mode.

Starting his career with LVMH, he quickly rose through the ranks to become Managing Director for the Americas at Kenzo Parfums. Subsequently, Philippe joined Shiseido Group and he now heads the Travel Retail global business as President & CEO.

Before sharing Philippe's interview with you, we would like to thank him warmly for his availability and generosity in sharing his experience. 

Thank you Philippe!

1/ Philippe, your journey can be described as international, do you have a favourite destination?

I really like Tokyo and travel there often for business. It is an extremely interesting city with aesthetically remarkable architecture and such diversity to discover; and yet so serene and controlled. I have travelled to many cities in my professional and personal life and there is no equivalent as Tokyo. Last year, I visited South Island in New Zealand, which hosts the purest natural landscapes I have ever experienced. Being based in Singapore, I tend to think about Asia Pacific but if you asked me many years ago when I was in America, I would consider Brazil or the West Coast as inspiring destinations. 

2/ Why did you choose to join the IFM and follow the Master's degree in Fashion Management?

After studying at business school, I began to take an interest in fashion and beauty and this was further strengthened with an internship at Chanel. The IFM, which at the time offered a Master's degree with ESCP, seemed to be the best opportunity to further my learning experience.

I would like to especially thank Veronique Delignette-Schilling and the entire IFM management team, who supported and enabled me to obtain a Yves Saint Laurent Beauty scholarship and complete an internship there.

3/ What do you think of the links between fashion and beauty?

Fashion and beauty are innately related, especially the creative energy and business fundamentals that go into the building of a brand. 

When it comes to beauty, make-up and fragrance allow you to express your personality, your mood of the moment and your style. This is especially true in the West but beauty goes beyond the visible and in Asia, it is more holistic, while skin care is the main category.

4/ You are based in Singapore and have a long history of working abroad. Why did you choose an international career?

As a person, I am rather curious and open-minded. At a very young age, I wanted to explore the world and discover other cultures. It may be related to my first trip to Los Angeles, when I was only 5 years old, at one time when flying was not so common. Since then, I have spent most of my time abroad, notably in Central and Eastern Europe, the Americas and Asia Pacific. 

From my experience, the qualities required for an international career are entrepreneurial spirit, dynamism as well as sincerity and ability to build trust. One needs to learn how to adapt to local cultures to be accepted and respected. Also, the sense of timing is very important. You need to know how to seize opportunities at the right time and manage crises when they arise.

5/ What ties do you still have with France today? And with the IFM alumni community?

I keep close ties with France, my country, both professionally (part of my team is based in Paris) and personally (my family and friends). Where possible, I follow with interest the news of IFM and its alumni. Unfortunately, I have been living outside of France for over 20 years and keeping in touch is more challenging.

When I was living in the United States, I made an effort to meet with IFM students who came to New York in seminary in September (group of students of the Executive MBA of Véronique Delignette-Schilling) and stay connected. I also enjoy reading newsletters and articles on the school.

6/ What do you think of network operation?

To me, networking is an excellent form of communications and collaboration. It is also a sign of vitality and health for any community. 

7/ Do you have any advice for young IFM alumni?

With humility and from my professional experience, I would advocate our young alumni to think big, be bold, balanced and ready. 

And never give up!  It is something very Japanese, by the way, that you never give up. The idea is to have a long-term vision, be agile and adjust your plans along the way and see it through the end.

8/ Finally, in the current economic context so specific to COVID, what is your vision for the future?

Firstly, I see the current difficult situation as a transition. Like in any crisis, it is an accelerator of trends that also presents opportunities, e.g. transformation, with new ways of working and more digitalization. 

Today, we are able to do almost everything remotely, which some doubted before the crisis. Communication continues to be key and while it has become very convenient, I believe it also needs to be personalized and have the human touch.  

Certainly, Chinese consumers will become more prominent. Sustainable development is another imperative; otherwise, the next disaster could be global warming, for which there will be no vaccine!

9/ What would you like to pass on to the alumni in this particular context, from the point of view of Travel Retail (TR) or other?

It is a timely reminder for reflection and to build resilience. In TR, we are used to running sprints (very strong growth in sales and profit for many years). In this context, it is more of a marathon and we need to adapt our pace accordingly and have a "growth mindset". 

Unfortunately, aerospace, air & travel, and TR have been impacted most severely. The silver lining is travel innately is a human desire to explore the world and discover new experiences. Post Covid, I believe personal travel and tourism will pick up while business travel may be reduced in favor of digital meetings (in part to manage costs). 

Thinking ahead, these are exciting times for Shiseido Group and I am optimistic of the future, especially with 2 new brands in our portfolio - Drunk  Elephant:www.drunkelephant.com  and  Baum:  www.baumjapan.com.

10/ Last words : Philippe’s message to IFM students

Fashion & Beauty can change the world!

I truly believe there is a place where people can find more meaning in art, beauty and culture, combined with possibilities brought by science, data and tech. 

We are living in transformational times. The decisions we make based on principles and ethics will have a lasting impact on social and economic value. 

As you embark on your career, you can create boundless opportunities through your ideas dynamism, and relationships with others. Be bold and drive change while staying relevant, balanced and purposeful. 

Wishing you all the best in your endeavours!

Béatrice Ferrié ( eMBA GFM 2016-2017)

Shiseido Travel Retail Global Presence :