Henri Cotard

Your time at Imperial College Business School

Why did you choose to study your programme and why specifically at Imperial College Business School?  

I chose this specific programme as I wanted to obtain a quantitative approach in learning, to learn more in-depth about marketing and its practical implications, to enjoy an amazing campus and to meet diverse students with international backgrounds who had studied different subjects beforehand.

What was the most important learning point you took with you from the Business School? And the most surprising thing about the programme?

I most appreciated working on group projects, as it is when I learnt the most from others. Making an impact as a group, deciding on a marketing strategy, or working on a project for several months as a group of people from different cultures is very rewarding!

What advice would you give to a prospective student considering studying the same programme as you?

Watch the movie ‘Yes Man’ and adopt that mentality: Say yes to anything, be curious, meet new people, immerse yourself in a new culture and learn along the way!

Tell us about your current job

How has your programme contributed to your career success?

From a technical point of view, the programme taught me marketing skills that I use everyday when working on our products. From managing a stock to developing a marketing campaign to understanding the differences between customers based in India or Russia for example, all these skills were nurtured at Imperial. From a human perspective, meeting such international and diverse students has opened many doors, prepared me better to working in such an international and large company. Above all, the excellence cultivated by Imperial has helped me constantly pushing harder. 

What do you enjoy most about your current work?

I work on our three brands and accompany them from their production to the customer’s hands. What I enjoy most is the gymnastics between each team for our products to be successful. It really feels like a sports team. The current period is special as airports are less active and therefore I enjoy rethinking the brands, the customer experience and the strategic role of duty free in the future years. I think what I enjoy most as Assistant Product Manager is the holistic view I have on our products. I deal with the teams who create the products to the people selling them in store which is amazing.

What are the most exciting/difficult challenges facing your sector currently?

Digitalisation and the desire for sustainability are two trends shaping the cosmetics industry that we work on and are challenging yet extremely exciting. The biggest challenge in Travel Retail specifically are the closed airports. Opportunities arise such as transforming the retail experience, rethinking our pricing strategy, reshaping our promo strategy, creating new products, keeping our brand ambassadors engaged, etc. Big challenges mean huge opportunities.

Alumni community

In what way is remaining connected to your alumni network important to you?

For me studying is a lot about meeting new people and staying in contact with former colleagues. It’s also about meeting new people from Imperial today, something I do at L’Oréal where many ex-Imperial students work! University doesn’t stop the day you leave the classroom but your experience evolves as an alumnus as you are still representing Imperial!

Have you volunteered at the Business School since you graduated? If so, why do you feel it’s important to volunteer your time and experience?

Yes, it’s important for me to give back to the institution! I first went to school in Auckland in New Zealand and we had a team badge and would represent our ‘House’ during the year, in the classroom, on the sports field, in charity works, etc and since I feel a strong sense of team spirit with the three universities I represent, and I am proud to represent Imperial!