According to French newspaper, Le Figaro, L’Oréal is set to name deputy Chief Executive Officer, Nicolas Hieronimus, as its new chief, replacing long-time leader Jean-Paul Agon. The appointment will be decided at a board meeting on Wednesday afternoon at the company’s headquarters in Clichy, France, the newspaper reported, without citing sources.

Nicolas, who joined L’Oréal in 1987 as a product manager, has made many impacts on the global beauty giant over the past 23 years. As Marketing Director for the Laboratoires Garnier in 1993, he successfully created the Fructis hair care range. In 1998, he became General Manager of the Garnier Maybelline Division in the UK. In 2000, he was named General Manager, L’Oréal Paris France, and then International General Manager for L’Oréal Paris, which he repositioned as the accessible luxury brand. In particular, he developed skin care with the creation of Dermo Expertise, Solar Expertise, and Men Expert. In 2005, he became General Manager of L’Oréal Mexico. In 2008, he became General Manager of the L’Oréal Professional Products Division and he increased its global leadership, driven in particular by the launch of Inoa hair color. In January 2011, he was appointed President L’Oréal Luxe, a role that he held until the end of 2018. In addition to this role, he took up his new position as President Selective Divisions (Luxury, Active Cosmetics, Professional Products,) on 1 July 2013. He was most recently named Deputy CEO in charge of Divisions on May 1, 2017.

Nicolas is said to be taking over the operational reins of the group in April 2021, the newspaper reported.

Agon, who is only L’Oréal’s fifth CEO in its 113-year history, has been CEO since 2006 and announced earlier this year that he would be stepping down in 2021 when he turns 65 and his mandate expires.