On June 17, 2026, trade association Cosmetics Europe announced the election of Oswald Barckhahn of Beiersdorf AG as its new president. The announcement was made following the association’s 2026 General Assembly.
Barckhahn has been a member of the executive board of Beiersdorf AG since 2021 and has led the company’s business in Europe and North America. He previously held senior leadership roles at PepsiCo, Jacobs Douwe Egberts and Procter & Gamble. He succeeds Birgit Huber, deputy director of IKW, the German Cosmetic, Toiletry, Perfumery and Detergent Association, who has served as the acting president of Cosmetics Europe since June 2025.
“I am grateful to be elected president of Cosmetics Europe at such an important time for our industry,” Barckhahn said. “The European cosmetics and personal care sector plays a vital role in people’s daily lives and in Europe’s economy. We are operating in an increasingly complex regulatory landscape that affects our businesses and the ability of European companies to compete globally. Ensuring that policy makers recognize the importance of our products and prioritize the needs of our consumers and businesses requires a strong presence from our companies both in Brussels and across the EU member states. My goal is for Cosmetics Europe to show up as a high-performing industry platform that protects the value of our industry and strengthens our competitiveness in Europe.”
In addition to Barckhahn’s election, the association also announced the election of Benedetto Lavino of Cosmetica Italia as vice president and Tony Norman of Edgewell as treasurer.
