Full Name: Serge Sacre

Position and Company Name: CEO of L’Oréal South Africa

Main Activity of the Company: L’Oréal is a cosmetics company offering beauty products across skincare, haircare, makeup and fragrance

Date and Place of Birth: Lebanon, May 21, 1981

Schools and Tertiary Education: INSEAD and the American University of Beirut

First Job: Sales representative

Size of First Pay Packet: R5 000 a month

Career Path to Date: I have spent more than 22 years in the consumer goods industry. Over the past 12 years at L’Oréal, I have held senior leadership roles that have allowed me to drive business growth and lead complex transformations across both developed and emerging markets. Since 2014, my focus has been on sub-Saharan Africa – first as commercial director and then CEO of L’Oréal East Africa, and currently as CEO of L’Oréal South Africa

Value of Assets under Your Control: L’Oréal South Africa is a subsidiary of the wider L’Oréal Group, which has a market capitalisation of about €200-billion

Number of People under Your Leadership: More than 600 employees

Management Style: My leadership approach is grounded in collaboration, clarity and purpose, with sustainability at its core. I lead with transparency, integrity and inspiration – building trust, encouraging open communication, and fostering a culture of engagement among employees and with external stakeholders

Professional Best Achievement: Leading L’Oréal South Africa to become the number one beauty company in the market, advancing sustainability and creating pathways for our people to grow career-wise

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My father, who, as a businessperson himself, prepared me for the world of business from an early age

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Many people, but L’Oréal’s founder Eugène Schueller stands out – his innovation, resilience and entrepreneurial spirit continue to motivate me to strive for excellence in every endeavour

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Nelson Mandela

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, whose visionary leadership and strategic foresight continue to shape the future of AI and inspire business leaders worldwide

Philosophy of Life: My philosophy of life is to leave every place and business better than I found it

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Leading the transformation of L’Oréal South Africa into the number one beauty company in the market

Biggest Ever Disappointment: The delay of a key project early in my career – a setback that taught me invaluable lessons about the critical importance of stakeholder engagement, early alignment and proactive risk management

Hope For the Future: To see South Africa flourish and make an impact on the global stage.

Favourite Reading: Atomic Habits, by James Clear

Favourite TV Programme: Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings

Favourite Food/Drink: A well-made burger with crispy fries, complemented by a refreshing Coke Zero

Favourite Music: Rock – one of my all-time favourite bands is Muse

Favourite Sport: Basketball, which I played as a semi-pro in my earlier years

Hobbies: I am an avid gamer, and I also have a passion for skiing and swimming

Car: I drive an Audi RS3 – a car that perfectly blends performance, style and advanced engineering

Pets: I currently do not have any pets, but I appreciate the joy and companionship they bring to many people’s lives

Miscellaneous Dislikes: One of my strongest dislikes is arrogance. I believe humility and openness are essential qualities for collaboration and personal growth. Arrogance often hinders communication and teamwork

Married: Yes, I am married

Children: I am a proud parent of two wonderful children, a boy and a girl

Clubs: I am not a member of any club, and neither do I regularly attend club activities. While I appreciate the sense of community and networking that clubs can offer, I tend to focus my time and energy on other personal and professional pursuits