"Since the first day I arrived in Shanghai in 1997, Shanghai has a special place in my heart," Jean-Paul Agon, chairman and chief executive officer of L'Oréal, said, expressing his deep affection for the city.

Twenty-four years ago, L'Oréal entered the Chinese market with a dream of "making a lipstick available to every Chinese woman". As president of L'Oréal Asia, Agon fell in love at first sight with Shanghai when choosing a city for Loreal’s China headquarters.

Career highlights in Shanghai

During the 43 years in L'Oréal, working in Shanghai has been one of the highlights in Agon's career. He still remembers vividly the time when L'Oréal established its China headquarters in Shanghai in 1997."We were in a very small office building at that time, with about 20 people including me," he said.

In his eyes, Shanghai is like a boundless sea. He witnessed the great changes of the city as it grew into a leading business hub and felt that it is the best place in China to develop L'Oréal's business. And it proved to be a wise decision. Today, L'Oréal China has earned its place as a leader in the country's beauty market with 28 brands and become the second largest market for the L’Oréal Group.

Under the guidance of Agon, L'Oréal has set a series of records for the speed of launching new products in China, and has cultivated innovative talents for the cosmetics industry.

Agon was honored with the title of 2021 Honorary Citizen of Shanghai in recognition of his contribution to the development of Shanghai.

Countless memorable encounters with Shanghai

From the World Expo, China International Import Expo (CIIE) to the International Business Leaders' Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai (IBLAC), Agon has been engaged in a variety of these events in Shanghai and he has never hesitated to express his affection for the city."Shanghai, let's meet. I love Shanghai," he said.

In 2010, L'Oréal China was the only double sponsor of the Shanghai World Expo and the French National Pavilion with the support of Agon.

L'Oréal has participated in CIIE for four consecutive years.

Since 2019, Agon has been a member of IBLAC and has advised Shanghai on its economic development together with other international business leaders.

Before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Agon visited Shanghai no less than 50 times. He has made many young friends in Shanghai. Agon recalled that he went to Fudan University for a campus charity sale in 2017."I made exchanges with many interesting post-95s young people, which impressed and inspired me. They represent the future energy of Shanghai and China," he said.

Inspired by attractiveness of Shanghai

The city spirit of Shanghai is "be tolerant to diversity”.“The city provides an excellent business environment for foreign companies in China, and L'Oréal Group has benefited deeply from this," said Agon. As a pioneer of L'Oréal China, he has witnessed the changes in the Chinese market, which is strongly attractive to foreign companies.

"The relevant government departments at all levels in Shanghai gave practical support to foreign companies like L'Oreal. As far as I know, there is only one country in the world that their government department visits the general managers of the branches every year and asks what companies need. Shanghai is the only city in the world that can do that," he said. 

L'Oréal's North Asia Zone covering China, Japan and South Korea, established its headquarters in Shanghai in 2020. Agon believes that it will definitely benefit Shanghai consumers and bring more opportunities to Shanghai. He believes that Shanghai will achieve its goal of being an international consumption center city earlier than any other cities in China.