Carol J. Hamilton

Carol Hamilton has had a long and successful career building beauty brands and portfolios. A champion of gender equality and children's rights, she has pioneered philanthropic causes at L’Oréal and served as a mentor to countless men and women.

Carol is Group President of U.S. Acquisitions, the BOLD Fund, and the West Coast Headquarters for L’Oréal USA. She is strategically charged with identifying key American brands and services for potential acquisition or investment. In 2020, she was also charged with opening L'Oreal's second headquarters in Los Angeles, and to lead the Group's West Coast operation, culture and reputation.

During her 40-year career at L’Oréal, she has been responsible for building the L’Oréal flagship brand from a small indie brand in the 1980s into the #1 global beauty brand worldwide, behind the iconic phrase "Because I'm Worth It." In 2008, she was promoted to run the Luxe portfolio of brands, tripling retail sales in her 10-year tenure. She also led the successful acquisitions of Clarisonic, Urban Decay and It Cosmetics, running these brands alongside Kiehl's Since 1851, Armani Beauty, YSL Beaute and Lancôme. Carol was one of the first digitally savvy leaders at L’Oréal, pioneering the global launch of the company's first worldwide digital platform in 2009.

In 2018, Carol extended her governance of American acquisitions to be strategically charged across all Divisions and Services to build the Group's portfolio and expertise. Under her leadership, Thayer's Skincare (Mass), Youth to the People Skincare (Luxe), and SkinBetter Science (Dermatology) have been recently acquired. She has also made several minority investments in brands and tech startups.

In 2020, Carol was charged with designing and leading L’Oréal’s West Coast headquarters, and envisioning a new, strategic way of working and hybrid culture post-pandemic. She is now bi-coastal, splitting her time between California and New York, and her beautiful home in Connecticut. Throughout her career, Carol has been dedicated to philanthropic causes, all linked to her passion to better women's and children's lives. In 2009, she spearheaded the Armani Acqua for Life program with UNICEF, and subsequently joined both the National Board and New York Regional Board, where she serves as Chair. In 2013, Carol created the Women in Power course in gender equality for L’Oréal executives with the Harvard Women's Leadership Board. She was elected to Chairman of that Board in 2018, and served a four-year term.

Carol is passionate about gardening, travel, her husband Rodney and two gorgeous Maine Coon cats, Rosie and Elvis.