Thierry Paternot

“Formerly CEO of Facom, Reemtsma and Managing director of L’Oréal France and Germany”

Thierry brings to Duke Street his extensive experience of consumer-facing businesses. During his career he spent 22 years at L’Oréal, the cosmetics giant, working in a number of executive roles including Managing Director of the German operations and then of Eastern and Southern Europe. Finally he became Managing Director of the French consumer business.

Later he was Chairman of the Management Board of Reemtsma, the world’s fourth largest cigarette manufacturer, based in Hamburg. Following Reemtsma’s acquisition by Imperial Tobacco, Thierry became CEO of Facom, the leading European hand tool manufacturer. On its sale to Stanley Works, he became President of Stanley Europe.

He is Chairman of Fullsix (advertising agency), and Non-Executive Director of Biomnis (Duke Street), of Henkel AG in Düsseldorf, of Oeneo SA in Paris and of the Franco-German Chamber of Commerce.

Thierry is a graduate of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and has an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Thierry Paternot, Operating Partner

“The Duke Street Triangle gives a complementary role to the CEO who drives the business, the Investment Partner who has the last word on the main financial decisions, and the Operating Partner who, by listening and questioning, acts as an influential sparring partner with both CEO and Investment Partner. All of them have a financial interest in the business, so that the advice of the OP is also given with responsibility. Duke Street is one of few Private Equity groups that gives the OP real influence on strategy and HR issues, as opposed to just a role as a door opener.”