In July 2024, Mane has announced the retirement of Michel Mane, from the position of president of Mane Americas region. The company has since appointed Stephanie Trouiller, who has been with the company for over 20 years to take over the role.
The company has also appointed Andreas Steiner, who has joined as president of Fragrance Mane USA.
Perfumer & Flavorist+ connects with Trouiller and Steiner to discuss their industry journeys prior to their new positions and perspectives for the future.
Stephanie Trouiller
Can you share your journey in the F&F industry and how it has prepared you for this new position? Additionally, what are your perspectives on the future of the industry?
Stephanie Trouiller [ST]: I began my journey in 1994, graduating from the Institut Universitaire Technologique de Chimie in Orléans. I then pursued advanced studies in Flavours and Fragrances, and later earned an engineering degree in Agro-Food. My career started at Danone, where I developed my expertise in flavor creation. In 2002, I joined Mane in Mexico, where I worked my way up through various roles, including R&D Manager and Business Director. After taking a five-year break to focus on my family, I returned to Mane as General Manager in 2019. Since then, I've been leading the company to achieve significant growth and operational excellence. In June 2020, I extended my responsibilities to LATAM region, taking on the role of Regional Strategic Business Director, overseeing both flavors and fragrances and driving strategic initiatives across the region. Since 1 July this year, I have had the great honor of succeeding Michel Mane as president of Mane Americas.
The objective is to ensure continuity of our mission the region, foster a dynamic spirit and passion for our partners within the teams and, drive the ongoing growth of our business across the Americas.
What traditions or practices does Mane uphold to maintain its family-oriented culture?
ST: Being part of a family business is a great opportunity. Mane is a company with solid roots, established in a dynamic of progress, with a strong mission to grow fast and transmit. We are a community of talents linked by a passion for excellence and a dedication to our customers, operating with a strong family culture, driven by ethics, inclusivity, and adaptability.
Our financial independence gives us the freedom to make bold choices, to invest in our business and our people, to ensure that we continue to move forward. This is the true essence of corporate social responsibility.
In what ways does Mane’s family culture differentiate it from other companies in the industry?
ST: At Mane, we are proud to be the largest family-owned company in the Flavours and Fragrances industry, ranking fifth globally and standing as the number one French company in the sector. Our success is built on what we call "The Mane Way," which is guided by three core principles.
Firstly, we operate with a strong family culture. We view every employee as part of our extended family, and we take pride in fostering a sense of belonging and unity. We also deeply respect and appreciate local cultures, which strengthens our global presence.
Secondly, we're passionate about meeting our customers' needs. Our clients and their end consumers are at the core of our business. We have a customer-centric approach, supported by a network of experts and specialized task forces, both locally and globally, to ensure we're always in tune with their needs. We have built our growth on a “Glocal” strategy: a global presence combined with local expertise, French savoir-faire, respect, and appreciation of local cultures.
Lastly, we maintain the highest ethical standards. At Mane, protecting people and resources is fundamental to who we are. This commitment is reflected in our leadership, our adherence to a strict Code of Ethics, and our responsibility to build a sustainable future.
What are the core values that Mane stands by, and how are they reflected in the company’s actions?
ST: At Mane, our core values are deeply rooted in our governance and the way we operate. We prioritize care, candor, loyalty, and faithfulness in all our decisions, always aligning with the long-term best interests of the company, our employees, and all stakeholders.
Teamwork is central to our success, driven by the principles of respect, trust, cooperation, and communication.
Moreover, we foster a culture of leadership excellence. This commitment drives our responsibility to build a sustainable company that will thrive for generations to come.
Mane USA offers a wide array of training and development programs for employees to remain effective in their roles and ultimately contribute to the success and growth of the organization.
Can you describe the Training and Development Programs available to Mane employees?
ST: Mane is offering international training programs to ensure the development of our future leaders and the enhancement of connectivity within our organizations.
Mane USA is also proud to offer a wide array of training and development programs for employees to remain effective in their roles and ultimately contribute to the success and growth of the organization. It is our belief that fostering a culture of learning and career advancement promotes innovation and creativity within the organization, which leads to a generation of fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to business challenges. Our many programs are designed to enhance employees’ skill gaps, leadership, and growth opportunities for the future. Some of our key programs include:
· An Annual Formal Mentoring Program
· Lunch and Learn Forums set in a casual environment to offer insights into different department structures and ways of working to educate an understanding of the business.
· Fragrance, Management, and Leadership Training
· Workshops to raise public awareness of climate change.
· And even French lessons😊
What partnerships or collaborations does Mane have to enhance its CSR impact?
ST: More than ever, we believe that operating businesses in a sustainable manner is an imperative. Sustainability is the cornerstone of a bright, desirable future, and so it is the cornerstone of our business practices. At Mane we are genuinely committed to protecting biodiversity, flighting climate change, embracing diversity, promoting equity, ensuring transparency and human rights’ respect along our value chain. We know that embracing sustainability fosters innovation, resilience, and long-term successes.
Through international certifications and partnerships all around the world, we strive to ensure sustainable development and to fight against global warming. We partner with selected producers to create conscious value chains for our natural ingredients, including economic, social, and environmental commitments.
We aim to contribute to society, particularly within the communities in which we do business, to promote their development. We work collaboratively with local authorities and NGOs to carry out multiple environmental and social initiatives related to education, medical health and hygiene, equity, etc.
Trouiller shares, "We partner with selected producers to create conscious value chains for our natural ingredients, including economic, social, and environmental commitments."
Can you share your journey in the F&F industry and how it has prepared you for this new position?
Andreas Steiner [AS]: I hold a BS and an MBA in Business Sciences & Economics from the Technical University of Berlin. Throughout my career in the fragrance industry, I have gained extensive experience and built a solid track record for driving success and innovation. In my new role as head of the Fragrance Division in North America, I am responsible for setting the strategic direction, improving operational efficiency, and leading growth initiatives. I will be working closely with the executive team to foster innovation, enhance customer satisfaction, and ensure sustainable, profitable growth.
Before joining Mane, I spent over two decades at Symrise, where I held several senior leadership roles. Most recently, I served as SVP of Consumer Fragrances & Oral Care North America, where I was responsible for the division’s P&L and led a multidisciplinary team across various areas.
I also served as SVP of Business Integration at Symrise, successfully managing multiple acquisitions and integrations. Additionally, as President of Fragrance and Aroma Chemicals LATAM, I oversaw operations across Latin America, driving growth and innovation in markets like Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina, and Germany and the Middle East in prior roles. My extensive international experience has given me a deep understanding of the global fragrance market, and I'm excited to bring that expertise to this new role at Mane.
Andreas Steiner
Additionally, what are your perspectives on the future of the industry?
AS: The fragrance industry is in a state of constant evolution, always on the lookout for new trends and innovations that can captivate the senses and elevate olfactory experiences. The integration of technology into perfumery is creating exciting new possibilities, ushering in an era where the boundaries of sensory perception are being expanded. We are also seeing a growing demand for emotional fragrances, which perfectly illustrates how technology and creative innovation come together to meet the ever-changing needs of consumers.
In today's world, where sustainability and environmental awareness are more critical than ever, the fragrance industry is fully embracing eco-friendly and sustainable practices. This includes everything from using natural, sustainable ingredients to adopting resource-efficient production methods. The future of perfumery is undoubtedly being shaped by this environmentally conscious approach.
Moreover, the industry is becoming increasingly digital. Online platforms are creating new spaces for exchange, inspiration, and discovery. From virtual communities where fragrance enthusiasts share their experiences to innovative online boutiques and distribution models, the digital world is playing a significant role in shaping the future of perfumery.
Can you provide examples of recent innovations developed by Mane that have significantly impacted the market?
AS: With nature as our inspiration and foundation, we interpret its endless elements to define our vision of natural fragrances, using both biotechnologies and new synthetic molecules. The resulting olfactory creations enrich our palette of ingredients and provide Mane with its consistent competitive edge.
Our advanced research is driven by sincere emotion. Fundamental research programs develop molecules that contribute to the singularity of our fragrances. We are driven by a desire to consistently surpass ourselves, developing new, unprecedented aroma molecules. As a result, over the past 5 years, we have developed and numerous patented molecules such as Physcool®, an internationally commercialized proprietary, natural cooling agent. We are committed to maintaining our stance at the forefront of innovation by creating 2 unprecedented captives each year. As caring for the environment is of utmost concern to us, we also heavily invest in research programs that focus on green chemistry processes.
Our Olfactometry lab reflects our continuous dedication to better serving our customers through use of Innovation. By gaining greater understanding of the raw materials we use, we can apply this knowledge to explore unchartered creative territories to go even further in responding to our customers’ needs and desires.
How does Mane stay ahead of industry trends and emerging technologies to drive innovation?
AS: Our R&D teams are committed to providing superior performance in terms of long-lasting hold, malodor counteraction, and more to every fragrance solution we develop for our clients and their consumers. Throughout it all, we strive to create the highest degree of sensoriality, and ensure the utmost attention to safety and sustainability. Our GREEN MOTION tool, which integrates the 12 principles of Green Chemistry, drives our R&D and team of perfumers to develop new solutions with a consistently more eco-friendly approach.
Our cutting-edge captives program was strategically developed to add value to our palette with high impact and a low carbon footprint.
Mane’s specialties and accords are highly atypical in their creative signatures and unique and out of the box. Ranging from traditional extractions to biotechnologically obtained molecules, through our innovative Jungle Essence extracts, our manufacturing processes are inimitable. In a constant quest for excellence, our teams tirelessly travel the world, collecting raw materials and forging partnerships with remote communities. In this way, we can secure sourcing, diminish supply chains, circumvent price fluctuations, and offer you premium ingredients options. The secret to our vast success is present in our exclusive portfolio, enabling us to formulate technically performing sophisticated compounds derived from only optimal quality, specialty ingredients. The combination of our craftsmanship, know-how, process mastery and technological team support, have all contributed to Mane’s position as a worldwide leader in its sector.
Last but not least, our WELLMOTION program, based on a unique blend of subjective and objective tests, offers a complete and exhaustive analysis of the emotions that a fragrance brings. Our unique scientific approach enables us to design formulas totally fitting to a customer brief through innovative formulation guidelines.
Green Motion is a trademark of Mane
JungleEssence is a trademark of Mane
WellMotion is a trademark of Mane
Steiner shares, "Customer centricity is at the heart of our core values as we listen to consumer’s pain points and how best to address them with fragrance innovation solutions."
Can you describe how Mane’s value propositions differentiate it from competitors?
AS: Fragrance preferences are deeply influenced by our culture and individual experiences. Understanding consumer preferences, as well as uncovering their unfulfilled needs and desires, are essential to our success. Mane optimizes sensory and consumer insight to support our customers in their quest to consistently innovate and design successful products. Exceptional ingredients, outstanding technology, and targeted consumer insights are hallmarks of our creations. They nourish our teams’ creativity and inspire them to design visionary fragrances that will become tomorrow’s classics.
In addition to being extremely agile, we apply our customer-centric approach to our client’s opportunities. We listen to their challenges and white space, then answer with concrete data driven rationale, clearly defined business solutions, backed by consumer’s insights on how best to grow their business at retail. We have a strong track record in becoming ONE with our clients.
Can you provide examples of how Mane’s differentiations have led to market success?
AS: Customer centricity is at the heart of our core values as we listen to consumer’s pain points and how best to address them with fragrance innovation solutions.
Our fragrance solutions are extensively researched with our trend forecasting team and our strong understanding of the olfactive and retail market landscape. And that’s only the beginning of our partnership for success. Our work is then validated with industry sales data and consumer’s insights to confirm intent to purchase, all the while ensuring that our SKU recommendations are incremental to their brand’s portfolios.
In addition, we go the extra mile, offering 100% turnkey solutions to full branding capabilities through our in-house design studio. Examples utilizing this partnership approach have resulted in incremental business opportunities and allowed Mane to obtain core listings at several major companies, creating a win-win partnership with our clients.
