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Women & Men in Beauty Series - New York
Formula for Success
What does it take to create a top selling fragrance like Wonderstruck Taylor Swift? Learn how Givaudan and Elizabeth Arden successfully collaborate on a winning fragrance – from creating the juice, developing the fragrance, to distributing and marketing the finished product.
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Olivier Gillotin
Vice President Perfumer, Givaudan
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Olivier Gillotin is a Vice President Executive Perfumer at Givaudan. During his impressive 30 plus year career, he is known to have created some of the industry’s classic fragrances like Elizabeth Arden Red Door, as well as designing modern statement s in perfumery for new brands like Taylor Swift.
Born in Nantes, France Olivier had followed his passion to become a perfumer by training at the legendary Givaudan Perfumery School. Oliver began his perfumery career, spending 17 years with IFF gaining international experience in Argentina, Brazil, France, Holland, Mexico and the United States. After living abroad, Olivier returned to Europe, joining Creations Aromatiques. In 1999, Olivier rejoined Givaudan and has created some of the most renowned fragrances including: Givenchy L’interdit, Elizabeth Taylor White Diamonds, Dior Higher, Calvin Klein Truth For Men, Axe Pulse, Ralph Lauren: Ralph Wild, Victoria’s Secret Sexy Little Things Noir, Mariah Carey Forever Mariah, Beyonce Heat, Z Zegna, Hugo Boss Boss Bottled Night, Halle Berry Reveal The Passion, Fragrances for Tom Ford brands and most recently Ralph Lauren Big Pony For Her Number 4.
Olivier's family has been in the textile industry for more than three centuries, which inspired him to build an Alpaca farm and business in New York State where he lives with his wife and two daughters. Olivier finds a great amount of inspiration from his many travels and experiences abroad. He speaks multiple languages: English, French, Portuguese and Spanish which adds to the universe of his inspiration that constantly plays a role in his life and craft.
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Ronald Rolleston
Executive Vice President, Elizabeth Arden
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Ron has served in a series of Executive Marketing, Creative and Sales roles within the Elizabeth Arden organization since 1999. Since 2010, he has been the Executive Vice President of Creative and New Business Development. In this role, he is responsible for the creation of all the advertising and packaging at Elizabeth Arden and for licensing of all New Fragrance Brands. He has been the architect for the signing and development of a number of celebrity brands during his tenure including Taylor Swift, Britney Spears, and Mariah Carey.
Previously, he served as President of Paul Sebastian, Inc., a fragrance manufacturer, from September 1997 until January 1999. Ron also served as Executive Vice President of Global Marketing of the Elizabeth Arden Company from January 1995 to March 1997, when it was owned by Unilever. He was the General Manager of Europe for the Calvin Klein Cosmetics Company from May 1990 to September 1994, responsible for the creation of all of the European affiliates and for the successful launch of brands like Obsession and Eternity. Calvin Klein was established as a leading fragrance company in Europe during that time.
Ron began the formative stages of his career at L’Oreal. There, he served in variety of roles in finance, sales and marketing. Ron serves on the board of the Fragrance Foundation. Ron splits his time between Hoboken and Cape May New Jersey where he spends as much time as possible with his two children. |
Kathy Widmer
EVP and Chief Marketing Officer, Elizabeth Arden
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Kathleen Widmer joined Elizabeth Arden in November 2009 as EVP and Chief Marketing Officer. She is responsible for the global growth strategy and marketing execution of the Elizabeth Arden Brand as well as the company’s extensive portfolio of fragrances, including Juicy Couture, John Varvatos, Curve, Elizabeth Taylor White Diamonds, Taylor Swift, and Britney Spears.
Prior to joining Elizabeth Arden, Kathleen spent 21 years in the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies. She began her career in Operations and Supply Chain positions, and then transitioned to Marketing where she managed a variety of Johnson & Johnson brands in the health and personal care categories. She advanced in J&J marketing through positions of increasing responsibility, ultimately as Vice President of Marketing for the McNeil Consumer Healthcare Company. She led such brands such as Tylenol, Motrin, Imodium, St Joseph’s and all pediatric brands.
Prior to joining Johnson & Johnson, Kathleen served for 5 years as a US Army officer. She held positions of increasing responsibility in the Field Artillery, reaching the rank of Captain and Battery Commander of a 400 soldier training unit at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Kathleen is among the earliest women graduates of the US Military Academy at West Point, and completed her MBA at Oklahoma City University while serving in the military.
She is married to her West Point classmate, Robert Widmer, and they have three daughters. She loves running, cycling and enjoys creative design and spending time with her family. |
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Moderated by Jenny B. Fine, Editor, WWD Beauty Inc
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