Lacoste names Philippe Gautier as head of finance

French sportswear brand Lacoste has recently appointed a new executive vice-president finance, Philippe Gautier, who was recently CFO and COO at beauty and wellness website Waldencast. Gautier has a track record of over 30 years in finance, most of which he spent at fashion and luxury groups, notably SMCP and Kering, which he joined when the group was still called PPR.

“I am delighted that Philippe Gautier has taken charge of [Lacoste’s] finance department, and I am convinced that he will be a major asset for our brand,” said Thierry Guibert, CEO of Lacoste and the MF Brands Group, which besides Lacoste owns  Aigle, The Kooples, Gant and more. “Lacoste will be able to rely on his in-depth knowledge of the fashion and lifestyle sectors, his extensive international experience and his proven skills in implementing major projects, especially for the supply chain and in IT,” added Guibert.

Gautier began his career in banking and went on to join international groups such as Peugeot and Schneider Electric. In 2003, he moved to PPR, and was involved in modernising Redcats, where he remained for over six years, before joining Puma in 2009. He took charge of finance and operations at the German sports equipment manufacturer’s US headquarters in Boston, notably overseeing the acquisition of Cobra Golf, and developing a new e-tail platform. In 2014, he moved back to Europe, becoming the CFO of Sergio Rossi in Milan. At the time, Kering wanted to sell the Italian luxury footwear brand, and Gautier supervised the project before leaving the company.

In 2015, Gautier joined the thriving, evolving SMCP group, working with the KKR group, which had at the time put most if its weight behind French affordable luxury labels Sandro, Maje and Claudie Pierlot. The group faced several financial and funding challenges, and attracted the interest of various investors. Gautier was notably involved in SMCP’s stock market listing in 2017, and later in the acquisition of De Fursac. In the five and a half years Gautier spent with SMCP, the latter’s labels significantly broadened their international footprint, especially in key markets like the USA and China.

In 2020, Gautier was appointed CFO of beleaguered coffee specialist Selecta, which distributes Lavazza and Starbucks in Europe. After a stint there, he spent a year and a half in London as the CFO and COO of Waldencast. Now back in Paris, he has taken over at Lacoste from Denis Lamoureux, who started in the role in 2017, and had been with the group since 2008. Gautier will contribute his know-how to a brand whose main challenge is boosting its international standing. In 2022, Lacoste reported a revenue of €2.5 billion.