Kao has announced two appointments to its Global Management Team. Karen Frank, President, Consumer Care, AEMEA, and Dominic Pratt, President, Salon, Global are appointed Executive Officers effective January 1st, 2022.
With these appointments, Kao is recognizing the important role of the Kao businesses in the Americas and EMEA regions for the future globalization of the Kao Group while at the same time strengthening the international representation and diversity of their management board. With their new roles, Karen Frank and Dominic Pratt will be able to further strengthen the role of the AEMEA Consumer Products Business within the global business operations by giving the regions a strong voice within the Global Management Team and the ability to lead the businesses with faster decision making and greater autonomy. They will also be able to consult the leadership team in the company´s Tokyo Headquarters on international business matters. Dominic Pratt has been with the Kao since 2000, starting his career as Senior Scientist working primarily in hair color development, specifically the innovative Rainbow Technology, used in Goldwell Pure Pigments and other products. In 2015, he was appointed Vice President R&D, European Research Laboratories and since 2019, he has led the Skin Care Research group in Kao´s Tokyo headquarters and was appointed President Global Salon in September 2021.
Kao Corporation specializes in manufacturing and marketing of consumer products. Net sales (including intragroup) break down by family of products as follows:
- care and beauty products (44.4%): body care products (soap, shower products), face care (brand Bioré) and hair care (shampoo, colorants, etc.; Asience, Liese, Curél and Essential);
- house cleaning and laundry care products (22.7%): detergents (brand Attack), dishwashing liquids, cleaners, stain removers, etc.;
- chemical products (21.6%): oleo chemical products (fat alcohols, fat amines, fat acids, etc.), inks, colorants, surfactants, etc. ;
- hygiene products (11.3%): feminine protection products (brand Laurier), diapers (Merries), oral hygiene products, etc. The group is also providing food products.
Net sales break down geographically as follows: Japan (58%), Asia (22%), America (10.5%) and Europe (9.5%).