Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella appoints new CEO

Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, dubbed the world's oldest pharmacy, has named Ludivine Pont as its new CEO.

Pont joins from luxury brand Balenciaga, where she has served as Chief Marketing Officer since September 2021.

Prior to this, she was Worldwide Marketing & Communication Director at Moncler for five years and Head of Marketing & PR at Phillip Plein.

Carlo Pesenti, CEO of parent Italmobiliare and Chairman of Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, told WWD: "With profound skills, international experience and strategic vision, we are certain Pont is the right person to contribute to the growth of the group, giving further impetus to the global development of Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, always respecting the values and peculiarities that make the company a brand without equal in the world."

Until her arrival, the company will continue to be led by General Manager Giampiero Pesenti and the current management team, following the exit of CEO Giovanna Paoloni, who had joined in 2024.

"It is a great honour and a profound responsibility to take on the leadership of Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella," Pont said.

"This is a house with an extraordinary legacy, over eight centuries of botanical and pharmaceutical excellence. My goal is to carry this heritage forward and create an experience of timeless care that speaks to the senses, to beauty and to time."

Established in 1221, Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella's journey has been intertwined with the lives of royals, nobility, and admirers who’ve helped amplify the pharmacy globally.

With continued expansion - including the opening of a new boutique in London's Burlington Gardens last year - its products are available in over 30 countries and at more than 400 points of sale worldwide.