AAGEF Executive Club: The Business of Creativity

The Executive Club of AAGEF is pleased to invite you for a conversation with

Veronique Gabai-Pinsky,
President of Vera Wang
on

"The Business of Creativity"

The business model of luxury consumer brands is a changing one in the context of a more digitally savvy world, and a growing millennial consumer base. The goal is not to answers "needs" but to create "wants". This talk will explore how successful organizations focus on creativity - a risky endeavor - while balancing the business needs and how to find the right balance between these two competing priorities.

The luxury industry has always been defined by a mix of craftsmanship, creativity and culture. Now, these topics must go beyond the design of products to the design of experience. Helping creators to understand the importance of customer experience beyond the design is crucial to success. However this can prove a daunting tasks as it has not traditionally be a focus for designers.

In this digital era defined by an increasing need of differentiated experiences, we will explore the opportunities for designers to completely connect with consumers, beyond products. The new challenge for designers is to go beyond the creation of objects to become builders of dreams, desire and a strong value system. For a business manager, it is all about bringing the brand to life beyond ensuring the transaction.

Join us on 5/10 at 8:30 am for a breakfast discussion in the Saybrook Room at the Yale Club, 50 Vanderbilt Avenue, NYC.

We hope to see you there,

AAGEF event team

About our Speaker:

Veronique Gabai-Pinsky is a brand builder, bridging creative thinking and business acumen, with a broad understanding of consumers, brands and business models.

Ms. Gabai-Pinsky is currently President of the Vera Wang Group, overseeing all categories and markets.

Prior to joining Vera Wang, Ms. Gabai-Pinsky spent 12 years at the Estee Lauder Companies, as the Global President for Aramis and Designers Fragrances as well as Beauty Bank and Idea Bank, reporting to CEO Fabrizio Freda.

During her tenure, Ms. Gabai-Pinsky developed and ensured the growth of several beauty and skin care brands, including Lab Series for Men.

She was highly instrumental in the evolution of the fragrance category for the company, as she improved its overall business model, improving profitability by 10 points, grew globally brands such as Donna Karan and Michael Kors, evolved and harmonized the portfolio, divesting dilutive brands and bringing in Tory Burch, Zegna and Marni under license, and ultimately ensured the acquisitions of Le Labo, Frederic Malle, and By Kilian for deep transformation of the long term strategic path of the company.

Previously, Ms. Gabai-Pinsky was Executive Vice President and General Manager for Fine Fragrance, North America, for Symrise and its predecessor, Dragoco. In that capacity, Ms. Gabai-Pinsky opened the New York Office of Dragoco to develop its US business as well as to position the firm in the fine fragrance category as a creative and alternative industry resource. She was also instrumental in managing the US merger of the fine fragrance teams with Haarman and Reimer, giving birth to Symrise.

In the earlier years of her career, Ms. Gabai-Pinsky served as Vice President of Marketing and Communication for Guerlain, a division of LVMH, where she led the successful re-launch of Shalimar, the introduction of Aqua Allegoria, and contributed to the re-focus of the beauty category around its pillars, Terracotta, Meteorites and Issima, while redesigning all communication strategies and content.

Prior to this, Ms. Gabai-Pinsky spent time as the Worldwide Director of Strategic Planning for SELECT Communications, handling clients in the beauty and fashion sectors such as Coty, Jill Sander, Vanity Fair and more.

She started her career at L’Oréal, and was lastly Vice President of Marketing for Giorgio Armani, where she was instrumental in the overall development of its fragrance business by developing the highly successful Acqua di Gio for men and introducing the Emporio Armani franchise.

Ms. Gabai-Pinsky graduated from ESSEC Business School in Paris, France. In addition to speaking French and English, she is also well versed in Spanish and Italian.

Ms Gabai-Pinsky serves on the board of Interparfums and on the board of Lycee Francais de NY.

She is a member of The Committee of 200, Fashion Group International and Cosmetic Executive Women.

She also volunteers as a “Principal For a Day” for the PENCIL organization, helping public schools in New York City.

In fall 2008, Ms Gabai-Pinsky was recognized as one of the top 10 “Women in Luxury” by Time Style & Design magazine.

She was recognized as Achiever of the Year 2009 by CEW.

In December 2010, The Cristal Festival honored her with the Cristal of Honor award for her noteworthy career achievements and contributions in advertising.

Additionally, in the Spring of 2013 Pratt Institute awarded her with the “Art of Packaging Award” which recognized excellence in cosmetics and packaging design.

She was also named Marketer of the Year by WWD in December 2013.

Ms. Gabai-Pinsky lives in Manhattan with her husband Joel Pinsky and their son, Joshua.