HOW IT ALL BEGAN
To support its development, ELEPHAS ® Paris brings together contributors based all over the world: professionals in the cosmetics field, renowned perfumers but also graphic designers and branding professionals, etc. These people, passionate about what they do, have come together to bring you high-end cosmetic products directly linked to nature and local communities.
Each has his/her own specialty, but together we aspire to the same objective. To not only develop a viable and responsible company, but also to create a social business that will, above all, support the protection of the environment and biodiversity. Bringing balance between the local communities of the planet through concrete field actions is one of our key missions.
MEET OUR TEAM
Founder of the recent Net Positive Impact movement, Olivier has dedicated his life to finding ways to involve local communities in biodiversity conservation. Having developed assets for Chanel, Yves Rocher, Dessange International, etc. and having involved them in his projects, he decided to create ELEPHAS® Paris. He dreamed of developing products capable of really having a positive impact on wildlife. Creating high quality cosmetics that would finally be developed without plastic and palm oil. He said to himself: “Why not start by supporting the conservation of elephants, these great forces of Nature that are yet so fragile?”
An engineer graduate in agro-management, Saroy has worked with Olivier for many years in the development of active ingredients for cosmetics and the standardized production of essential oils. She has proven management skills, both in business and in leading environmental projects in Madagascar and other countries.
INVOLVED PARTNERS
Author of the book “#Time4Humanity”, Samie is fundamentally a Humanist. Founder of MARMALADE FISH, Samie and his team advises business leaders on their management strategy by highlighting the need for humanity in development. When Céline COUSTEAU was shooting a film on Olivier’s work in Madagascar and saw the local needs, she called Samie for help. He immediately responded, willing to support the local communities of the Vohimana reserve in Madagascar. At the end of 2019, he came to meet Olivier in this reserve and decided to get involved with ELEPHAS® Paris.
Bertrand and Remy are the founders of Spain based ALTA PRESS which primarily produces documentaries and videos for French television news. They met Olivier in 2011 when they came to shoot a documentary on his work in Madagascar focused on the development of natural resources to support conservation. When Bertrand and Remy heard about the cocept of ELEPHAS® Paris, they immediately offered to join the adventure.
LAUNCH TEAM
Gala has a background in international trade and a great social understanding. For two years, she was in charge of coordinating many of the activities necessary to launch the brand, ranging from the sourcing of ingredients to packaging. Her commitment to the cause was particularly important in ensuring the brand consistency of the first products of ELEPHAS® Paris and launching the website and social networks.
Louise is the founder of “NAKED”, launched in the UK in 2004. It was the first accessible cosmetic brand produced without chemicals. Louise is a passionate and committed elephant conservation activist. She therefore naturally volunteered to follow ELEPHAS® Paris. Her advice was crucial in product development and she was the brand’s first representative in England.
Senda is a film director, from the Paris Cinema School, now based on the West Coast of the United States. She met Olivier during a shoot on in Madagascar and then also during filming for the documentary series THE EXPLORERS in South America. She was immediately keen when Olivier asked her if she would come to shoot elephants and local women in Burkina Faso for ELEPHAS® Paris.
PRODUCTS ENGINEERING TEAM
He is described as a “rock star” of niche perfumery who never allows himself to compromise on results and quality. Bertrand has worked on fragrances for an impressive number of brands (Acqua di Parma, Christian Dior, Comme des Garçons, Givenchy, etc.). In 2012, he came to meet Olivier in Madagascar where local teams produce essential oils. Bertrand enthusiastically agreed to make the ELEPHAS® Paris fragrance without the molecules of modern chemistry often used in this field.
A chemist by trade, Gaël is passionate about cosmetics. After having been a formulator, laboratory manager and factory manager, he decided to found his own formulation company. Gaël first met Olivier in Paris at the end of 2018. He accepted the challenge of developing high quality cosmetic products without palm derivatives.
A cosmetics engineer, Sabrina joined Gaël’s company after having worked as a regulatory manager for various companies. His work was fundamental in order to guarantee the efficacy and harmlessness of the products and to verify that the formulation is carried out in compliance with European legislation.
MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION TEAM
Anne has a double master’s degree: marketing and communication and management of development projects. She met Olivier in 2007 while doing work for his NGO L’Homme et l’Environnement. Lover of elephants and Africa – where she married Olivier in 2019 – she plays a crucial strategic role in the brands identity but also in the monitoring of projects in the field … And to film interviews of Olivier in Africa.
Julia studied at university in England, then following work in the city, started her career in marketing and advertising. Daughter of Olivier, born in the tropics, she is aware of the importance of preserving the environment, Julia has offered her support in developing the ELEPHAS® Paris’ Instagram account and engaging with UK based influencers.
Kilian studied photography at the Munich Image Academy where he ended up teaching. A brilliant photographer, he has worked for many magazines and for major brands. Kilian agreed to visit Africa for the first time with ELEPHAS® Paris in Burkina Faso. A great travel companion, he was able to complete the work Olivier had started and offered us superb images.
Munich-based journalist, Michael has worked for many famous newspapers. Michael interviewed Olivier several years ago and was passionate about his vision. He accompanied Olivier to Burkina Faso and created links with magazines and the innovative SMART STORY platform.
Anne M. is a project management engineer. Passionate about elephants from a very young age, she had the chance to realize her dream of observing them in Nature in Tanzania at the end of 2019. Impressed “as much by their presence and their beauty as by the wisdom and the family spirit which characterizes them “, she found herself more motivated than ever to act. Joining the ELEPHAS® Paris team was for her a fundamental step in becoming an actor in conservation.
COMMERCIAL TEAM
Benoit has been a sales manager specializing in pharmacy for many years. It is a logical sector for ELEPHAS Paris® products. When he discovered the brand and its commitments, Benoit doubled in enthusiasm to the point of taking his companion, a laboratory biologist, on the adventure. It is he who listens to and communicates with pharmacists to identify what their expectations are of the ELEPHAS® Paris products.
Frédérique has experience in Business Development, Marketing and Communication. She has worked in France, Germany, Great Britain, Morocco, Cambodia and China. Over the last 3 years, Frederique worked as an Associate Director in Sales Marketing for a brand of baby cosmetic products. Passionate about social equality, she was excited to join the ELEPHAS® Paris team for its commitments.
Sophie has acquired solid experience in fashion and beauty in both sales and purchasing roles. After working for different brands and large groups, she wanted to get involved in a project that has meaning and a positive impact. In line with our values, Sophie did not hesitate to offer her services in commercial development of ELEPHAS® Paris. Ambassador of the brand, she brings us her expertise and advice for the development of selective distribution both online and offline.
Her ambition: find the best points of sale for ELEPHAS® Paris and aim to open stores from Paris to New York!
Her ambition: find the best points of sale for ELEPHAS® Paris and aim to open stores from Paris to New York!
OPERATIONAL TEAM
Engineering student at the Bordeaux school of agronomy and agro-industry Louise spent 6 months in Japan studying. Among other things, Louise is passionate about perfumery and cosmetics, she contacted ELEPHAS® Paris to do an internship. Louise also writes articles for www.madbotanic.com.
Mathieu has developed experience in the purchasing structures of large industrial groups but also in the distribution of medical devices. He left his last role as a consultant to embark on new projects that are more responsible for the planet. He did not hesitate to offer his help when he was told about ELEPHAS® Paris and its positive impact on endangered ecosystems. Organizing logistics for a brand like ELEPHAS Paris® is not easy, between sourcing ingredients in Africa, production in France and stores from Paris to New York, but Mathieu wanted to take up the challenge!
Thomas is a digital entrepreneur, expert in e-commerce. Lover of Nature – and sometimes tired of soulless commerce, he has sought to invest in several environmental projects. When Thomas heard about the plan to market products to support local development and elephant conservation, he immediately offered his skills.
THE FIELD TEAM
Bernadette is trained as a manager. She began her career by helping the development of the GRAINES DE JOIE association, an association supported by Elephas which takes care of educating very disadvantaged children in Ouagadougou. Bernadette first met Olivier in 2018 and then Anne and Olivier in 2019. She wanted to get involved in the environment. She works for both structures and now manages projects developed with women’s groups on the elephant corridor.
Issouf is an agricultural engineer by trade. He has been working as an agricultural extension worker for several years within the BURKINABE GA MO WIGNA association. He supervises projects that are carried out with local communities in villages around the elephant corridor in southern Burkina Faso. Always ready to learn, he never spares his efforts so that projects can move forward despite the difficult conditions on the ground.
Karen has a PhD in agricultural engineering specializing in soil science and environmental technologies. She is also an artist and social entrepreneur. Passionate about Moringa, she met Olivier for the first time in New York in 2014. She has since done considerable work with the foundation she created (JSFoundation) to support groups of women in the development of plantations within the Arusha region in Tanzania. She took Olivier there in 2017 and impressed him with the work she does with the women of the region.
WHY ELEPHANTS?
Elephas means Elephant in ancient Greek.
These gentle giants are under tremendous threat, along with their habitats.
We draw inspiration from these extraordinary creatures in order to find ways of protecting them.
The Shea tree is commonly found in these habitats and is threatened by extensive cotton farming, with little yield. This tree gives us one of the key ingredients in natural cosmetics, Shea butter. It doesn’t make sense that we let this rich natural resource disappear.
By increasing the value of the Shea tree for the local communities, we can motivate forest conservation, and therefore the protection of elephant habitats. ELEPHAS brings income-generating activities to various populations, especially women, because as the saying goes,
“If you invest in a woman, you invest in her entire family”.
The brand is a true social business that gives 50% of its profits to supporting the local communities involved in elephant conservation.
Find out more about our Conservation Programs.
Feel free to contact us for any inquiries or comments.
13 rue Ernest Cresson 75014 Paris