L’Oréal Maroc appoints Gilles Delaunay as managing director

Yesterday 18:45

L’Oréal Maroc is entering a new phase of its leadership structure, with Gilles Delaunay appointed Managing Director and Laila Benjelloun Touimi taking on the role of Chairwoman. The appointments take effect on October 1, 2026, marking a transition that combines international group experience with longstanding knowledge of the Moroccan market.

Delaunay will oversee the day-to-day activities and development of L’Oréal’s Moroccan subsidiary, while Benjelloun Touimi will focus on strengthening the company’s institutional presence and relationships with Moroccan stakeholders. She will also continue to support the activities of the L’Oréal Foundation in Morocco.

A leadership transition built around continuity

L’Oréal has maintained a presence in Morocco since 1943, giving the group more than eight decades of experience in the country. Over that period, the company has developed relationships with local partners, employees and consumers while expanding the reach of its beauty brands.

The new leadership arrangement is designed to preserve that long-term foundation while supporting the subsidiary’s next stage of development. Delaunay’s international experience within the group will be combined with Benjelloun Touimi’s familiarity with Morocco’s business and institutional environment.

Laila Benjelloun Touimi moves to the chairmanship

Benjelloun Touimi’s career at L’Oréal began in 2000, when she joined the Moroccan subsidiary as an intern after graduating from ISCAE. She subsequently held several marketing positions before moving to Paris, where she worked on the development of L’Oréal Paris across the Africa–Middle East region.

She returned to Morocco in 2014 to lead the Consumer Products Division and became Managing Director of L’Oréal Maroc in 2019.

During her tenure as chief executive, the Moroccan subsidiary doubled its revenue and achieved sustained annual growth, while also strengthening its position in the local market. Her mandate included the move to a new headquarters that obtained both HQE Gold and LEED Platinum certifications, achieving one of the highest scores recorded in Morocco.

Her tenure also saw the development of initiatives supporting women, women researchers in STEM fields and the professional inclusion of people with disabilities. International mobility opportunities for Moroccan talent were another component of the subsidiary’s development.

As Chairwoman, Benjelloun Touimi will retain a role closely connected to L’Oréal Maroc’s institutional relationships and its engagement with the country’s wider ecosystem.

“Since its creation more than 80 years ago, L’Oréal Maroc has grown through the commitment of its employees, the trust of its customers and the strong relationships established with its partners,” she said. “I am proud of what we have built together and pleased to continue this journey as Chairwoman, bringing my experience and knowledge of the Moroccan ecosystem to L’Oréal and supporting its continued influence.”

Gilles Delaunay brings international experience

Delaunay joins the Moroccan subsidiary after 27 years with L’Oréal France and the wider group internationally. More than two decades of that experience were spent within the Consumer Products Division.

His career has included assignments supporting business development across several markets, as well as participation in commercial transformation projects. In his most recent position as Global Commerce Transformation Officer, he worked on the design and implementation of commercial transformation initiatives across the group.

His appointment places that international experience at the centre of L’Oréal Maroc’s next phase, with responsibility for steering the subsidiary’s operations and development.

Focus on Morocco’s changing beauty market

Delaunay takes over at a time when Morocco’s beauty sector is characterised by a diverse consumer base and an increasingly established network of local market expertise.

“The Moroccan beauty market is dynamic and driven by consumers with diverse expectations, alongside players with recognised expertise,” Delaunay said. “I am very pleased to join L’Oréal Maroc and its teams. I want to build on the subsidiary’s development, strengthen its relationships with partners and continue to grow by listening closely to the market.”

He added that the company’s ambition would be to offer beauty products and services aligned with the aspirations of Moroccan consumers.

With the transition effective October 1, L’Oréal Maroc will therefore combine a new executive leadership profile with continuity at the chairmanship level, as the group seeks to build on its long-established presence in Morocco.