Placements
A record of consequence.
A selection of recent mandates — anonymised to protect the confidentiality of our clients and candidates.
Every placement we make represents a moment of genuine consequence — for the brand, for the individual, and for the industry. The following is a selection of recent work, shared in the spirit of transparency while preserving the discretion our clients expect.
01
Prestige Skincare
Chief Executive Officer
Global — Paris-based
The mandate
A heritage European skincare house sought a CEO to lead a strategic transformation and reposition the brand for a new generation of luxury consumers. We identified a candidate from outside the beauty sector — a leader with deep luxury retail experience and a track record of brand elevation at scale.
The outcome
The appointment was completed within 14 weeks. The brand has since reported its strongest commercial performance in a decade.
02
Luxury Fragrance
Global Creative Director
New York
The mandate
A leading American fragrance house required a Creative Director capable of bridging its heritage identity with a contemporary cultural moment. The mandate demanded absolute confidentiality — the incumbent was still in post.
The outcome
We completed the search on a fully retained, confidential basis. The new Creative Director was announced to critical acclaim.
03
Colour Cosmetics
Chief Marketing Officer
London
The mandate
A fast-growing prestige colour brand needed a CMO to lead its international expansion. The brief required a rare combination: deep digital fluency, luxury brand sensibility, and proven experience scaling a beauty brand across multiple markets.
The outcome
We placed a candidate who had previously held senior roles at two of the world's most recognised beauty conglomerates. The brand entered three new markets within 18 months of the appointment.
04
Wellness & Beauty
President, EMEA
London
The mandate
A US-headquartered wellness and beauty brand sought its first President for the EMEA region — a newly created role requiring both entrepreneurial instinct and the credibility to represent the brand at the highest levels of the European luxury market.
The outcome
The appointment was made from our existing network. The candidate was in post within 10 weeks of the mandate being accepted.
Client voices
What our clients say.
Cortez brought us a shortlist of three exceptional candidates — each one could have taken the role. That quality of calibration is rare. They understood our brand before they understood our brief.
Chief People Officer
Global Prestige Skincare House
The discretion and rigour they applied to our search was unlike anything we had experienced with other firms. They protected our brand throughout and delivered a result that has genuinely changed our trajectory.
Chief Executive Officer
European Luxury Fragrance Brand
We came to Cortez with an almost impossible brief — a newly created role, no precedent, and a very specific cultural fit. They found someone we would never have found ourselves.
Founder & Chairman
Prestige Colour Cosmetics Brand
Discuss a mandate
If you are considering a senior appointment, we would welcome a confidential conversation.