Laurence Pottié

Global Innovation | Sustainability | Regulatory Strategy & Compliance | Business Development | Cross-Functional Leadership

Cologne Bonn Region

About

As a senior leader with more than 20 years of international experience across beauty and personal care, specialty chemicals, and advanced materials, I enjoy translating complex technologies into customer value propositions, market opportunities, and sustainable business growth. A significant part of my career has been dedicated to beauty and personal care innovation, where I have worked closely with customers and industry leaders to address evolving consumer expectations, sustainability challenges, and regulatory developments. I for instance drove the end-to-end developement and launch of the bio-based and biodegradable Baycusan® CQ polymers for skin and hair care, and supported commercialization by creating marketing material and conducting global sales and distributor training. All through my career I actively contribute to industry thought leadership through publications, patents, conference presentations, and participation in international industry events. I bring a strategic yet hands-on approach: working with cross-functional and global teams to deliver impact that resonates with stakeholders, customers, and society. Fluent in German, English, and French, I thrive in international, matrixed environments and enjoy building partnerships across industries and geographies. Core expertise: Innovation Strategy | Product Development & Commercialization | Beauty & Personal Care Innovation | Hair Care Technologies | Sustainability | Regulatory Strategy & Compliance | Intellectual Property Strategy | Business Development | Technology Landscaping | Cross-Functional Leadership

Experience

  • Covestro (9 yrs 6 mos)
    • Global Product & Process Quality Manager - Specialties
      Nov 2022 - Present · 3 yrs 8 mos

      Functional lead of a team of 3 Quality managers responsible for quality assurance and global quality initiatives. Support operations to ensure compliance of process and products to internal standards and external regulations (e.g. food contact). Coordinates and represents Covestro’s quality during customer audits.

    • Strategic IP Management
      May 2020 - Nov 2022 · 2 yrs 7 mos

      Management and steering of broad patent portfolios for various technologies / chemistries / applications / Businesses. Support and drive meaningfull IP creation; organization and moderation of cross-functional IP creation workshops (with R&D, business, application development, production). Elaboration of competitive and technology landscape analyses; identification of innovation white spaces, emerging trends and growth opportunities to support portfolio and innovation strategy (e.g in areas such as cosmetics, medical or agricultural applications).

    • Global Business Development Cosmetic Raw Materials
      Jan 2017 - May 2020 · 3 yrs 5 mos

      Led end-to-end product development of Baycusan® CQ bio-based ingredients from concept through market launch. Defined sustainability innovation strategy based on emerging customer needs, regulatory trends and market opportunities. Several publications on products performance, environmental fate and regulatory aspects (microplastic regulation), as well as many presentations during global fairs (e.g. In-Cosmetics, SEPAWA, Sustainable Cosmetics Summit) .

  • BASF (11 yrs 1 mo)
    • Global Technical Key Account Manager
      Apr 2016 - Dec 2016 · 9 mos

      Technical key account management for L’Oréal - in charge of BASF polymers (film formers, thickeners), surfactants, emulsifiers, cosmetics oils.

    • Manager Product Development Surfactants / Oleochemistry
      Jan 2011 - May 2016 · 5 yrs 5 mos

      Laboratory team management for the development of new surfactants and polymers for cosmetics (skin and hair care), home care and further industrial applications. Coordination of activities from the R&D testings to the production and market launch, including the development of formulation concepts. Participation to fairs and presentation of technical concepts to customers. 8 patents on biobased surfactants, cosmetics oils and thickener.

    • Laboratory Manager R&D Performance Thermoplastics
      Jan 2008 - Nov 2011 · 3 yrs 11 mos

      Leading a team of experienced technicians on multiple projects dealing with thermoplastics and their additives, patenting of findings (6 patents). Ambassador of the BASF “Diversity and Inclusion” project.