Leadership transition at Dsm-Firmenich as Jonathan Simon takes fragrance helm

Swiss-Dutch company DSM-Firmenich has appointed Jonathan Simon as president of its Fine Fragrance division, effective July 1, 2025. He will take over from Jerry Vittoria, who is set to retire in July 2026 after 35 years with the global leader in flavors, fragrances and ingredients. A planned transition period will support a smooth handover between the two leaders.

Jonathan Simon joined the DSM-Firmenich group in 2020 and has since overseen the Procter & Gamble key account. He first served as worldwide senior director of Procter & Gamble’s beauty care business before becoming worldwide vice president of the American hygiene giant’s account in March 2024.

Before joining DSM-Firmenich, Simon spent most of his career with L’Oréal, where he worked for 12 years. He began by developing fragrances for brands such as Lancôme, Viktor & Rolf and Cacharel, before moving to the L’Oréal Paris brand.

From 2018 to 2020, he was global president of the Garnier brand. His international career has spanned several continents, including Japan, China and Singapore. He holds dual French and New Zealand nationality.

Simon’s appointment comes at a time of growth for DSM-Firmenich. The group, formed by the merger of DSM and Firmenich, reported sales of €12.8 billion in 2024, up 4%. The Perfumery and Beauty division, worth nearly €4 billion, grew by 7%, underscoring the strategic importance of this segment within the group.