EXECUTIVE INSIGHT
Q . TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR ROLE
» My name is Vanessa Clémendot , I ’ m a mother of four and I ’ ve been a L ’ Orealian for well over 20 years . I ’ ve worked for the four divisions of the Group , including travel retail , in France and Canada . On most days now , you can find me in New York , where I am Chief Supply Chain Officer for North America .
Q . HOW DID YOU END UP WORKING IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN SPACE ?
» It actually started with an internship I did in the UK during college . I worked with a company that specialised in transporting clothing on hangers – kind of niche , I know . At the same time , I ’ d applied to this really competitive Master ’ s programme in Supply Chain and Logistics and , to my surprise , I actually got in . It was a tough choice , but turning down a full-time offer after graduation to study supply chain was a no-brainer . It felt like the right path for me .
Q . WHAT DOES YOUR ROLE ENTAIL – AND WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE ?
» My role is all about orchestrating the intricate dance of our North American supply chain . I like to think I wear two hats : conductor and choreographer . As the conductor of our Supply Chain Network of Excellence , I ensure we ’ re in tune with the group ’ s global strategies . Think of it as fine-tuning an orchestra of best practices , project governance , training and performance indicators . I ’ m also the choreographer , overseeing
“Catching the school bus with my kids at 7.20am is non-negotiable ; that time together is sacred ”
the critical daily operations of our four divisions here in North America . From data analytics to customer care , I make sure everything flows seamlessly .
In terms of my day , with Paris being six hours ahead , it starts with a cup of coffee and a deep dive into my inbox to catch up on all things L ’ Oréal . Then , I focus on my kids and getting them ready for the day . Catching the school bus with them at 7.20am is non-negotiable ; that time together is sacred . Then I head to the office and , from there , it ’ s a dynamic mix of driving tangible results – like implementing a cutting-edge order management system or strategically positioning a new mixing centre – and collaborating with my amazing colleagues on shaping the future of our supply chain . We ’ re talking omnichannel customer experiences , optimising our physical network – all while keeping sustainability and AI at the forefront .
The best part ? L ’ Oréal ’ s collaborative spirit ! We ’ re all passionate about creating a beautiful future for our customers and the planet , and that shared energy is truly inspiring .
18 July 2024