With more than 20 years industry experience, Sarah Lynn knows a thing or two about beauty.
The seasoned executive is currently serving as Managing Director of Kering Beauté UK and Ireland – the UK and Ireland segment of the French luxury group which netted €323m in revenue 2024.
Kering Beauté created its beauty division in 2023 to develop the beauty arms of its Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Pomellato and Qeelin houses, and then acquired luxury fragrance house Creed in June that year.
The luxury goods group created the division to support the mentioned brands in developing within the beauty category, said to be ‘a natural extension of their universe’.
Below, Lynn charts her career journey and shares the essential skills a cosmetics industry professional needs to posess to make it to the top of a company like Kering Beauté.
She also reveals the business lessons she has learned throughout her career, having held leadership positions at several beauty giants, including VP of the Retail Channel at Estée Lauder Companies and Brand General Manager at Too Faced Cosmetics.
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Tell us about your first job in beauty
My first job in the industry was as a Counter Manager for a brand and it was just me and one part-timer.
We loved the preparation for the ‘bonus time’ and seeing how this supported us to excel and stretch our targets.
I loved the ability to sit customers down to
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