Coty Inc. (NYSE: COTY) named Soraya Benchikh as its next chief financial officer, effective September 1, 2026, as part of a broader executive transition. Benchikh, who brings over two decades of finance and general management experience in consumer goods, will join the company’s Executive Committee and report to Markus Strobel, executive chairman and interim CEO.
The appointment follows Coty’s restructuring of its operating model on July 2, which consolidated commercial decision-making closer to local markets and merged research and development with supply chain operations into a single function. Strobel, who previously served as Coty’s CEO before stepping into his current roles, emphasized Benchikh’s global leadership background in his announcement.
Benchikh’s career includes roles as CFO at British American Tobacco, where she also led operations in France and East and Southern Africa, and nearly four years at Diageo, most recently as president of Europe. Earlier in her career, she held finance positions at General Electric and Gillette. Her appointment comes after Laurent Mercier, who served as CFO for five years, stepped down from the role.
Coty, founded in Paris in 1904, operates in fragrance, color cosmetics, and skin and body care segments, selling products in more than 120 countries. Benchikh stated her priorities will include strengthening the balance sheet, optimizing capital allocation, and driving long-term value creation for the company.
