Coty Inc. Announces Appointment of Bart Becht as Chairman of the Board

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NEW YORK, Nov. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Coty Inc., a leading global beauty company, today announced that Bart Becht, former CEO of Reckitt Benckiser plc, has joined its Board of Directors as non-executive Chairman. Mr. Becht stepped down as CEO of Reckitt Benckiser plc, a UK-headquartered, world-leading consumer goods company, in August 2011.

"I am pleased that Bart has agreed to join the Board of Coty as its Chairman," said Peter Harf, who served as Coty Inc.'s Chairman since 2001, and will continue to serve as a Director of Coty Inc. and head of its Compensation Committee. "His longstanding experience at the head of a global consumer goods company will be an invaluable asset for Coty, as we continue to grow and thrive. I intend to remain active as a Board member and look forward to working with Bart."

Bernd Beetz, CEO of Coty Inc., noted, "I welcome the opportunity to tap Bart's unparalleled expertise.  With his arrival, the Coty management team has an even stronger Board to rely upon."

Mr. Becht said, "I am proud to join the Board of Coty, one of the leading and fastest growing beauty companies in the world with a fantastic portfolio of well known brands. I am looking forward to being closely involved with Coty."

In 1995, Mr. Becht became CEO of privately held Benckiser Detergents, which became Benckiser N.V. following its IPO and listing on the Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges in 1997.  In 1999, when Benckiser N.V. merged with Reckitt & Coleman plc and listed on the London Stock Exchange, Mr. Becht became CEO of the merged entity. Under his leadership, Reckitt Benckiser became a global powerhouse of well-known household cleaning and health & personal care brands, and saw its market capitalization grow from $7 billion at the time of the merger in 1999 to almost $40 billion today.

Prior to 1995, Mr. Becht held a variety of marketing, sales and financial positions at Procter & Gamble in the US and Germany, then at Benckiser Detergents in Canada, the UK, France and Italy.

About Coty Inc.

Coty was created in Paris in 1904 by Francois Coty who is credited with founding the modern fragrance industry.

Today, Coty Inc. is a recognized leader in global beauty with annual net sales of over $4 billion. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, passion, innovation and creativity, Coty Inc. has developed an unrivaled portfolio of notable brands and delivers its innovative products to consumers in 90 markets worldwide.

The Coty Prestige brand portfolio is distributed in prestige and ultra-prestige stores and includes Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Calvin Klein, Cerruti, Chloe, Chopard, Davidoff, Jennifer Lopez, Jil Sander, JOOP!, Karl Lagerfeld, Kenneth Cole, Gwen Stefani,  Lancaster, Marc Jacobs, Nikos, philosophy, Roberto Cavalli, Sarah Jessica Parker, Vera Wang, Vivienne Westwood and Wolfgang Joop.

The Coty Beauty brand portfolio is more widely distributed and includes adidas, ASTOR, Baby Phat, Beyonce Knowles, Celine Dion, Chupa Chups, David and Victoria Beckham, Esprit, Elite Models, Exclamation, Faith Hill, GUESS?, Halle Berry, Heidi Klum, Jovan, Kate Moss, Kylie Minogue, Lady Gaga, Manhattan, Manhattan Clearface, Miss Sporty, Nautica, N.Y.C. New York Color, Nicole by OPI, OPI, Pierre Cardin(1), Playboy, Rimmel, Sally Hansen, Stetson, Tim McGraw, TJoy and Tonino Lamborghini.

Coty and Puig Fashion and Beauty S.L. have a strategic partnership for the distribution of the perfume lines of  Antonio Banderas, Carolina Herrera, Nina Ricci, Prada, Paco Rabanne and Shakira in the United States and Canada.

For additional information about Coty Inc., please visit www.coty.com.

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SOURCE Coty Inc.