Philippe D’Have does not describe himself as a particularly sociable businessman.
The Belgian native who is general director of L’Oreal, a global cosmetics giant in Ukraine, prefers staying in the office to networking.
That is why a victory in the first-ever Kyiv Post award for Business Person of the Year in 2009 was unexpected news for him.
“It is always nice to get such award,” said D’Have.
He was especially honored to be in the company of such nominees as Bruno Le Cicle, the French-born managing director at Nestle Ukraine, and Jorge Intriago, a native of Ecuador who is a partner at Ernst & Young.
We worked as if there was no crisis in front of the consumer: invested, developed, expanded, and hired the best talents in marketing, sales and logistics.”
– Philippe D’Have, businessman.
This year’s Business Person of the Year will be announced on Jan. 27 in the InterContinental Hotel along with the rest of the winners at the newspaper’s 10th annual Best of Kyiv awards.
The open and straightforward D’Have said he received a lot of feedback after winning the award.
Many people congratulated him and potential employees mentioned the acknowledgement, saying they are honored to be interviewed by the Business Person of the Year.
The attention came from the surprisingly good results L’Oreal showed, despite the 2009 economic crisis, in which the nation’s gross domestic product plunged 15 percent.
“There was an incredible growth of 50 percent in sales when most of other companies showed negative results,” D’Have said.
The L’Oreal chief seems to be very proud that his company has maximized the opportunities and solved the challenges of over-performing in an under-performing market.
“We worked as if there was no crisis in front of the consumer: invested, developed, expanded, and hired the best talents in marketing, sales and logistics,” said D’Have.
Just like the weather, everything changes very fast: Two weeks ago in Kyiv it was 20 C and now it is -10C. The same goes for the market.”
– Philippe D’Have, businessman.
Part of the success is attributable to the global presence of L’Oreal. D’Have says the company has the opportunity to move financial assets where they are needed.
Another key to success was a more diversified approach to consumers. In the downturn, L’Oreal has launched more affordable products to people whose pocketbooks slimmed.
D’Have said many of the company’s budget cuts came in less essential expenses, such as trips to Paris for meetings.
The L’Oreal leader in Ukraine may know more about the tastes of Ukrainian women than any other foreigner.
He says their preferences are close to other Europeans, and so is skin and hair type, which makes it easy for marketing and development.
Still it is too early to relax, the 2009 Kyiv Post Business Person of the Year said.
D’Have moved to Ukraine in 2006 and, since that time, he has adjusted to volatility and tried not to make strict forecasts.
“Just like the weather, everything changes very fast: Two weeks ago in Kyiv it was 20 C and now it is -10C. The same goes for the market,” he adds.
Despite tremendous growth and great potential, D’Have says future growth rates will slow down, compared to the 50 percent jump in 2009.
This country is very underdeveloped. Distribution and retail networks grow, so do the incomes of consumers.”
– Philippe D’Have, businessman.
“This year we expect 10 percent growth because people ran out of savings and didn’t have time to make new moves,” he said.
D’Have is still optimistic about Ukraine’s future and his business in particular.
“This country is very underdeveloped. Distribution and retail networks grow, so do the incomes of consumers.”
He thinks there is no reason why Ukraine can’t reach the level of Poland in 10 to 15 years.
Kyiv Post staff writer Olga Gnativ can be reached at [email protected].
