With a background in international trade and almost 10 years' experience within the company, Christopher Sabater takes over the management of the family perfume house TechnicoFlor.
On January 2, 2025, 33-year-old Christopher Sabater officially took over as Chairman and CEO of TechnicoFlor, succeeding his father François-Patrick Sabater, who created and developed TechnicoFlor for 44 years.
International ambitions
A graduate of an international business school, Christopher Sabater joined TechnicoFlor in 2015, during his final year of studies. He then managed a strategic merger and acquisition in Shanghai, and rethought the sales and marketing strategy to adapt it to the Asian market. His initial management experience enabled him, in 2016, to take charge of the "Middle East and Africa" market, a fast-growing market combining perfume tradition and growing demand for modernity. In eight years, he opened an office in Dubai to improve responsiveness and strengthen close ties with local brands, surrounded himself with some thirty employees (including three perfumers), also opened an office in Kenya and Saudi Arabia, and increased TechnicoFlor's share of sales in the Middle East/Africa segment from 10 % to 35 %.
At the same time, Christopher Sabater oversees markets in South-East Asia, notably India, Indonesia and China. He plays an active role in the company's strategic decisions, such as the construction of a new 10,000 m² automated plant in Beautéville, near Shanghai.
"My father and I have worked hand in hand for many years. His innovative vision has always guided our strategic choices, and I'm delighted to be taking over the reins of our family business with the same passion and commitment to continue writing our history, what's more, alongside my brother Jérémy Sabater, perfumer".he confides.
Towards a new era
Christopher Sabater's ambition is to intensify TechnicoFlor's initiatives in terms of social and environmental responsibility, which are already at the heart of the company's DNA, relying on biotechnologies to respect the environment while consuming fewer resources.
A pioneer in fragrance eco-design thanks to its Afnor-certified "FlorIndex" tool, the company continues to reduce its carbon footprint as well as its water and energy consumption. "I want to make our Group an exemplary global player, committed to both the environment and society, with ever greater transparency and ethics.says the executive.
Christopher Sabater also aims to position TechnicoFlor at the forefront of innovation, using artificial intelligence as a lever to broaden the horizons of creativity. Already a pioneer in automation, the company is exploring the potential of AI to support its 14 perfumers in designing new formulas, optimizing processes and why not even anticipating tomorrow's trends. "AI will never replace a perfumer, but it can significantly increase creative productivity tenfold", he asserts. He also sees in this technology an opportunity to revolutionize perfumery by creating personalized fragrances, for example, or to see the birth of new olfactory families, or even to pave the way for unprecedented sensory experiences.
A transition of continuity
Christopher Sabater's ambition is to preserve the company's family independence, while guaranteeing its creativity and capacity for innovation.
In terms of international development, he intends to double the company's sales over the next five years, while increasing the number of production units from three to five, with plans to set up operations in India, the United States and Latin America.
François Patrick Sabater will remain on the Supervisory Board, as well as at the head of API Holding, where he will continue to focus his efforts on flavors and raw materials through the various subsidiaries.
