Natasha Lopes is taking over as General Manager of the Consumer Products Division of L’Oréal South Africa.

L’Oréal South Africa is delighted to announce the appointment of Natasha Lopes as General Manager of its Consumer Products Division (CPD) in Southern Africa. Natasha brings over a decade of experience within the L’Oréal Group, having joined the company in 2013. Most recently, she led the L’Oréal Dermatological Beauty (LDB) Division, achieving remarkable growth and market leadership.
Under Natasha’s leadership, the LDB Division experienced transformative growth, ascending from eighth place in the dermocosmetics market in 2020 (with 4% market share) to a dominant leadership position in 2024 with a 31.5% market share, contributing an impressive aggregate of 62.3% of the market growth over four years.
Results-driven approach in a changing market
Commenting on her new role, Natasha says: “The growth we’ve achieved reflects our commitment to meeting consumer needs with science-backed, dermatologist-recommended products. I am excited to bring this same level of passion and focus to the Consumer Products Division as we navigate an evolving market landscape.”
Serge Sacre, CEO of L’Oréal South Africa, expressed confidence in Natasha’s ability to drive the Consumer Products Division forward.
“Natasha has demonstrated exceptional strategic acumen and the ability to adapt to changing market dynamics. Her results-driven approach and ability to understand her local consumer base has yielded our results phenomenally, a quality we need for the Consumer Products Division,” Serge comments.
Inspired by the promise of economic growth
The economic outlook for Southern Africa offers challenges and opportunities alike. The Future of Jobs Report 2025 [1]by the World Economic Forum projects Sub-Saharan Africa’s economic growth to reach 4.2% by 2030, fuelled by investments in energy, infrastructure and an expanding services sector. Meanwhile, shifting consumer trends demonstrate resilience, with notable growth in categories such as household furniture, appliances, and textiles, signalling a recovery in consumer confidence.
Economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa provides a promising backdrop for L’Oréal’s ambitions. Moody’s Ratings projects the region’s economic growth will rise to an average of 4.2% in 2025, spurred by investments in energy, infrastructure and an expanded services sector. As the continent’s second largest economy, South Africa is implementing reforms to enhance its economic resilience and creditworthiness.
Despite challenges such as inflationary pressures and geopolitical risks, the retail sector has shown signs of recovery. StatsSA reported a year-on-year retail trade sales growth of 6.3% in October 2024[2], with significant contributions from general dealers and retailers. Furthermore, L’Oréal was recently awarded Supplier of The Year by leading beauty retailer, Clicks South Africa.
Meeting consumer demand with ambition and innovation
As Natasha steps into her new role, her strategic insights and understanding of evolving consumer behaviours will be instrumental in strengthening L’Oréal’s market position. Rising costs of living and shifting labour market dynamics demand innovative approaches to meet consumer needs, and Natasha’s proven leadership promises to advance the division’s ambition to become the market leader in Southern Africa.
L’Oréal’s dedication to Africa extends beyond product innovation. Through its ethos of ‘We create the beauty that moves the world, the company continues to invest in sustainable growth and transformation in the region. In Natasha’s words, “the time is now to create the Beauty that moves Africa”.
References:
SA’s retail sales surprise, surging to two-year high – Moneyweb