Hermès taps Anne-Sarah Panhard for Perfumes and Beauty leadership post

Hermès has announced the appointment of Anne-Sarah Panhard as the new Managing Director of Perfumes and Beauty, marking a significant internal promotion within the esteemed French luxury house. While the Paris-based luxury marque did not release an official statement regarding Panhard’s new role, the title was confirmed to FashionNetwork.com.

Panhard officially assumed her new position at the beginning of November, succeeding Agnès de Villers, who had held the role since May 2015. De Villers has transitioned to a new executive capacity as Vice President of the Hermès Maroquinerie-Sellier métiers, a broad division that encompasses specialties such as Equestrian, Hermès Horizons, Petit h, and Internet of Things. This key promotion for Panhard comes as Hermès reported a 6% slump in its Perfume and Beauty sales to €367 million euros during the first nine months of 2025.

Anne-Sarah Panhard’s journey within Hermès began in 2011, quickly establishing her as a skilled and vital executive. Her previous roles include serving as Managing Director of Hermès France, a substantial division comprising 28 stores and 700 employees, contributing 14% of the group’s total revenues. Prior to leading the French division, Panhard held the prestigious position of General Manager of the iconic Faubourg Saint-Honoré flagship in Paris, widely recognized as one of the most profitable luxury retail establishments globally.

Before her most recent elevation, Panhard had, since 2018, been the Managing Director of Hermès Maison. In this capacity, she was instrumental in overseeing the creation and product development across various collections, including decorative objects, tableware, furniture, and furnishing textiles. Her responsibilities also extended to the management of Puiforcat, the esteemed tableware brand owned by Hermès, showcasing her diverse leadership capabilities across luxury product categories.

Panhard brings extensive and varied experience to her new role, including a solid background in department store management. Before joining Hermès, she served as country manager for Saks Fifth Avenue in Bahrain for three years. Her career also includes a tenure as country manager for Salvatore Ferragamo in the UK. Furthermore, Panhard spent two years at Harrods, where she excelled as Divisional Sales Manager for fashion accessories and fine jewellery, a division that, according to her LinkedIn profile, contributed approximately 20% of the London department store’s revenues. Her impressive academic background complements her professional achievements, holding degrees from two top business schools: Stanford in San Francisco and INSEAD, located just outside Paris.