Paul du Saillant

Paul du Saillant is the Deputy Chief Executive (CEO) of EssilorLuxottica, and a member of its Board of Directors. He joined Essilor in 2008, after 20 years spent in various leadership roles at Air Liquide and after serving as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Belgian Group Lhoist between 2002 and 2007. Before being appointed Deputy CEO of EssilorLuxottica in December 2020, he was the CEO of Essilor. In the past 7 years, Paul has played a key role in driving the combination of Essilor and Luxottica and leading key initiatives for the new, unified Group. Alongside EssilorLuxottica’s CEO, Francesco Milleri, he is now driving the strategic evolution of the company toward med-tech and smart glasses - making eyewear a gateway to new possibilities. This ongoing transformation – combined with the company’s unique integrated, omnichannel business model and its mission to help people “see more and be more” – has earned EssilorLuxottica a place among the world’s most innovative companies (Fast Company), and those that “Change the World” (Fortune) through their positive impact. EssilorLuxottica cultivates a culture rooted in strong human values. At the heart of this culture is employee shareholding, of which Paul du Saillant has been a passionate advocate. A keen sailor, he was the navigator of the French team in the 1983 America's Cup.