Sephora is a privately held, multinational beauty and cosmetics retailer that sells makeup, skincare, fragrance, haircare and beauty tools through both brick-and-mortar stores and e-commerce channels. It is known for its “open-sell” concept (allowing customers to test products freely), a broad mix of international and niche brands plus its own Sephora Collection, and the widely used Beauty Insider loyalty program. Sephora operates across dozens of countries and thousands of retail locations worldwide.
Sephora was Founded in 1969 by the Founder, Dominique Mandonnaud. In 2021, Guillaume Motte worked as the Deputy CEO of LVMH Fashion Group. In 2023, he was appointed President & CEO of Sephora. He is also a member of the LVMH Executive Committee.
As of January 2023, Guillaume Motte is the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sephora. He succeeded Martin Brok and now leads Sephora’s global strategy under the ownership of LVMH. Guillaume Motte has extensive experience within the LVMH group, having held senior leadership roles in luxury retail and fashion before taking over Sephora. Under his leadership, the company continues to focus on digital innovation, global expansion, and strengthening its position as the world’s leading beauty retailer.
What is Sephora famous for?
- The open-sell / try-before-you-buy retail model that changed beauty retailing.
- A large, curated selection of global, niche and exclusive beauty brands alongside Sephora’s own label.
- A strong omnichannel experience (stores + ecommerce + mobile) and the Beauty Insider loyalty program.
Ownership Status of Sephora
Sephora is owned by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE (LVMH) — the French luxury-goods conglomerate — which acquired the company in 1997 and has operated Sephora as a maison within its Selective Retailing activities since then.
LVMH is a big French company that owns many luxury brands, not just Sephora and Dior. Some other brands it owns are Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Celine, and Givenchy.
Because Sephora is held within LVMH’s group structure, it is not a standalone publicly traded company with separate public shareholders; rather, it operates as a brand/maison within the LVMH group. Artemis Patrick is the Global Chief Merchandising Officer (CMO) of Sephora.
Major Shareholders
| Shareholder / Entity | Ownership Percentage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (Parent) | Parent company / maison within LVMH | Acquired Sephora in 1997; Sephora operates as part of LVMH’s Selective Retailing businesses. |
Note: Because Sephora is a subsidiary/maison inside LVMH, there is no separate free-floating public shareholder list for “Sephora” itself.
Key Shareholder Highlights
- LVMH backing: As Sephora’s parent, LVMH supplies strategic capital, luxury-brand partnerships and global expansion support — factors that have helped Sephora scale internationally and build its omnichannel capabilities.
- Strategic fit: Sephora sits in LVMH’s Selective Retailing division and complements the group’s perfume & cosmetics, fashion and leather goods houses by providing a powerful retail & discovery platform for many brands.
- Operational scale: Under LVMH, Sephora has continued to invest in digital tools, retail formats and loyalty programs to maintain rapid growth and customer engagement across markets.
Recent Developments in Ownership
There have been no public reports of any change in Sephora’s ownership since it became part of LVMH in 1997. Operational and leadership changes (for example CEO or executive team appointments) do take place, but the parent-company ownership has remained LVMH.
FAQs
1. Who is the current owner of Sephora?
Sephora is owned by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE (the LVMH luxury group).
2. Is Sephora publicly traded or privately owned?
Sephora operates as a maison/subsidiary of LVMH (i.e., it is not an independent publicly traded company). Ownership is held through the LVMH group structure.
3. Who founded Sephora?
Sephora was founded by Dominique Mandonnaud in 1969 in Limoges, France.
4. Has the ownership changed recently?
No major ownership change has been reported — LVMH has owned Sephora since its 1997 acquisition.
5. Where is Sephora headquartered?
Sephora’s corporate / legal base is in France (Neuilly-sur-Seine / Paris area), and the company runs large regional offices and an Americas operational presence (notably significant offices/operations in San Francisco and New York among others).
Discover more from Who Is The Owner Of
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.