Geoff Webster

Because once you get a group to experience the joy of personal fragrance, they don't ever go back.

-Geoff Webster

Geoff Webster, former head of Givaudan's fragrance division and executive committee member, passed away on January 6. He was 68.

Webster's career began with Roure in 1972 and concluded when he retired from the organization, by then named Givaudan, in 2000. Throughout his career he was involved in the development of the fine fragrance and wider fragrance business in North America and Europe.

(Read a 1998 interview with Webster in Fast Company here.)

Webster, a U.S. Army veteran who had served in Vietnam, was an industry figure beloved for his business acumen, intelligence, empathy and sense of fun. As many personal tributes have attested, he will be greatly missed.

A tribute and photos in Auction Central News can be seen here.