As a leader in the supply chain industry, Graeme Carter had a fascinating and adventurous career in the space. In this episode, he shared his journey with me, including how his time with P&G shaped his supply chain knowledge. He also shared how his roles in different companies before made him the leader he is today.
We also discussed what makes Coty different and the culture within the organization, including the transformation they had with him as one of the drivers. He also shared how he sees the technological area and sustainability initiatives they will have by the year 2026. When it comes to marketing products, the beauty sector can be considered an influencer-driven industry. Graeme shared how they adapt to this method and why magic is one of the keys. Lastly, he shared what qualities they seek when looking for supply chain talents.
Listen to the full discussion here:
Connect with the Guest:
Graeme Carter, Chief Supply Chain Officer of Coty, is a C-Suite leader with over 30 years of experience. He leads the global end-to-end supply chain at Coty, one of the largest beauty and fragrance companies. Before joining Coty, he led several big transformations in large companies such as Avon, Amazon, and P&G. He has built a reputation as a visionary leader with a hands-on approach, delivering operational excellence. Graeme is an advocate for a customer-centric supply chain.
Questions I Asked:
- What is your role as the Chief Supply Chain Officer at Coty?
- How would you describe the current state of the beauty industry’s supply chain?
- What is the best marketing strategy to use to promote products in the beauty sector?
- What will technological transformation and sustainability look like at Coty in 2026?
- What are the top three qualities and skills you’re looking for in a supply chain talent?
Show notes:
- [01:07] Tell us about your career journey in the supply chain. How did you start? How did you get to the Chief Supply Chain Officer level? What is your role as the CSCO at Coty?
- [03:00] What makes you a different supply chain leader? What is your formula for being a successful supply chain leader?
- [04:11] You mentioned the different nature of different companies. How would you describe Coty?
- [05:53] How would you describe the current state of the beauty industry supply chain? And what are some key trends shaping it?
- [06:50] The reason the beauty sector is facing problems is that marketing doesn’t work anymore. Do you feel that at Coty? Or do you feel that in your customers as well?
- [08:58] In this model or influencer-driven beauty sector, how does the supply chain cope with that? And as a CSCO, how do you manage this trend?
- [10:48] How do you implement a customer-centric supply chain?
- [13:37] You’ve led big turnarounds and transformation at Coty. What did you do? Please share some achievements you’re proud of.
- [16:56] How do you integrate technology into Coty’s supply chain operations?
- [19:01] If you put yourself into 2026, how does Coty’s supply chain look like then with technology?
- [21:11] In 2026, what would the sustainability agenda at Coty look like?
- [22:24] When hiring supply chain talents, what are the top three qualities and skills you’re looking for?
Quotes from the Episode:
Soundbite from the Episode:
About the Host:
What an insightful and thought-provoking conversation with Graeme Carter! I am your host, Fei Yu, Managing Director for Europe and USA at Alcott Global. I have 15+ years of experience in global executive search for Supply Chain & Operations- excelling at connecting people and matching talents with organizations. I am also a former Global Head of Talent Acquisition for a top-tier management consulting firm.
Alcott Global provides Executive Search Solutions for key positions at all pillars of the end-to-end value chain: planning, procurement, manufacturing, logistics, e-commerce, and overall supply chain operations.
Meet us in Singapore on April 18 and Zurich on May 16 at the Makers & Movers face-to-face events. We bring together value chain executives to connect, collaborate, and innovate—a forum focused on business value creation.
You can nominate supply chain leaders you admire for the 2024 edition of the Leaders in Supply Chain Awards until April 4, 2024. We are looking forward to celebrating and awarding the Top 30 Leaders in Supply Chain of 2024 for their achievements in digitizing operations, decarbonization, sustainability, and creating a diverse and equitable environment for supply chain teams to thrive and excel.
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