Coty appoints AstraZeneca exec to new corporate affairs role

By

Cassidy Mantor

Published
Apr 25, 2018

Coty has named Esra Erkal-Paler, current head of external affairs at AstraZeneca, as chief global corporate affairs officer and executive committee member, a newly-created position in which she will lead communications strategy and responsible growth.

Commenting on the appointment in a release, Camillo Pane, CEO of Coty, said, Erkal-Paler "brings over 20 years of strategic communication and corporate affairs experience spanning beauty, consumer goods, healthcare and regulatory sectors" to her new role.

Pane added that Coty will be looking to continue Erkal-Paler's "track record of transforming corporate reputation, with a multi-channel mindset for engaging internal and external stakeholders."

Prior to joining Coty, Erkal-Paler led global external communications for the biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. She created communications strategies for M&A, financial, corporate, portfolio and partnering communications, global media relations, digital channels and community investment.

Before AstraZeneca, Erkal-Paler was executive director of the Advertising Standards Authority in charge of policy, public affairs and communications. She spent six years in communications at L'Oreal Group focusing on the UK and Ireland, and also headed corporate affairs for Unilever's home and personal care division.

She is a Trustee and Chairman of skin health research charity, the British Skin Foundation.

Coty's consumer brands include Covergirl and Rimmel, and its portfolio of luxury fragrance and cosmetics licenses include those of Gucci, Hugo Boss, Chloe, Marc Jacobs and Tiffany & Co. The company's portfolio also features a range of professional salon brands such as Wella Professionals, Sebastian Professional, and OPI.

Erkal-Paler will join Coty on May 21, 2018 and will be based in London. She will report directly to CEO Pane.