Coty Inc. Announces Soraya Benchikh as New CFO Amidst Significant Business Revamp
Global beauty conglomerate, Coty Inc. (NYSE: COTY), unveiled on August 19, 2026, the induction of Soraya Benchikh as its forthcoming Chief Financial Officer. The appointment becomes effective from September 1, 2026. Benchikh will be succeeding Laurent Mercier, who has fortified the company’s financial discipline during his five-year tenure as the CFO.
With a rich background in global finance, Benchikh is poised to bring a wealth of experience to Coty. Her most recent role was the CFO of British American Tobacco (BAT). She has held key positions at BAT, including the President of BAT France and Area Director for East and Southern Africa. Benchikh’s career also includes a significant stint at Diageo, where she served as the President of Europe. She kickstarted her finance career at General Electric and Gillette.
The executive reshuffle at Coty is a part of its significant transformation journey. Despite a surprise beat on fourth-quarter revenue with a 1% rise to $1.26 billion, surpassing analyst forecasts of $1.19 billion, the company reported a wider net loss of $144.3 million. Coty has withheld its annual outlook, dubbing fiscal 2027 as a “transition year.” The stock witnessed a 7% dip in extended trading. The leadership change is a part of broader organizational changes initiated in early July under Coty’s Coty.Curated strategy. Executive Chairman and Interim CEO Markus Strobel expressed confidence in Benchikh, calling her “the right leader for Coty’s next phase.”
Source: WWD – August 19, 2026