Kao EMEA & Americas

Our Kao Professional Hair brand Goldwell brought together 500 stylists from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Czech Republic for their Celebration of Color in Vienna. Across two inspiring days, the event put hair colour, creativity and professional development centre stage. From Hair Shows featuring international Goldwell artists to Look & Learn sessions and expert keynotes, the programme combined the latest trends and techniques with practical insights for today’s salon professionals. Two Main Stage shows with Amanda Lea Magistro, Mario Krankl, Quantum Hair, Martin Dürrenmatt, D. Machts Academy and J.7 Artistic Team showcased modern colour visions, editorial inspiration and creative salon looks. “With the Celebration of Color, we wanted to demonstrate how modern colour services can bring together creativity, technology and commercial success. Our ambition is not only to support stylists with innovative products, but also to provide education, inspiration and a strong community that offers practical impulses for the future of their salons,” says Sascha Haseloff, Associate Director Education DACH/CZ, Kao Professional Hair. Beyond education and inspiration, Celebration of Color was also about bringing the professional hair community together. Networking opportunities and shared experiences throughout the weekend created plenty of space to exchange ideas and build connections.

Our luxury brands Molton Brown, Oribe Hair Care and SENSAI joined forces once again at the TFWA (Tax Free World Association) World Exhibition in Cannes, showcasing the strength and diversity of Kao’s luxury beauty portfolio. As one of the travel retail industry’s leading international events, TFWA provided a platform to connect with retailers and industry partners, present our brands’ latest innovations and highlight their distinctive approaches to luxury. The shared presence also demonstrated how immersive retail environments, personalized services and exceptional consumer experiences are shaping the luxury customer journey. Key highlights included: • Molton Brown’s preview of a new launch, launching in Q1 2027, and its new Scent Pavilion visual merchandising concept. • SENSAI’s newly relaunched haircare collection and an expression of its SAHO philosophy. • Oribe’s evolved visual identity and Rough Luxury direction, together with the launch campaign for the Hair Alchemy Bond Building Elixir. Together, the three brands reflected Kao’s commitment to growing its luxury beauty business through innovation, distinctive brand identities and elevated retail experiences, in line with our Global Sharp Top Strategy.

For the third consecutive year, our hair care brand John Frieda supported Hamburg-based charity GoBanyo gemeinnützige GmbH and their shower bus for people experiencing homelessness by offering free haircuts this past weekend. Hairdresser and hair care expert Tom Hannemannn (@_the.beautiful.people on Instagram) provided free haircuts to guests of the GoBanyo’s Duschbus – a simple gesture that complements the charity’s ongoing work providing showers, clothing and hygiene products. 10 October also marked World Homeless Day and with this initiative, Kao and John Frieda, aim to draw attention to the valuable work of GoBanyo and offer a moment of care and well-being. René Heiligenstein, Managing Director Consumer Care Business DACH at Kao, said: “With this initiative, we underscore Kao’s commitment to not only promoting outward beauty but also contributing to improving peoples lives. That is why we are delighted to support GoBanyo’s valuable work through John Frieda.”

At Kao, we believe that prioritising mental health and wellbeing is key to maintaining an open dialogue, removing stigma and creating a safe environment where people can be themselves. This year, to mark World Mental Health Day, colleagues across the Americas and EMEA regions came together for a virtual event organised by our Mental Health Group EMEA and the Kao Wellness ERG in the Americas. Featuring a special message from Joe Workman, President, Global Consumer Care, Americas and EMEA, a keynote by Black Minds Matter UK, a leadership roundtable and a guided meditation, the session focused on practical ways to build resilience, support wellbeing and navigate periods of uncertainty. Beyond World Mental Health Day, our commitment to mental health and wellbeing is embedded in our culture and brought to life through a wide range of initiatives for employees across the Americas and EMEA, such as: • A hybrid work model to support mental wellbeing • Employee Assistance Programme services tailored to each region, providing employees with access to support throughout the year • Mental health awareness sessions to educate and remove stigma • Employee resource groups offering a safe space for employees to share, connect and find support • Mental wellbeing resources and tools, including mindfulness classes • Annual Mental Health Day for employees to take time off to focus on their mental health and wellbeing • And a range of additional initiatives and resources that support employee mental health and wellbeing throughout the year A big thank you to the Kao Wellness Employee Resource Group in the Americas and the Mental Health Group in EMEA for all their efforts around this important topic.

Recently, our EMEA Learning & Development team brought our learning experience SkillsLab to two UK locations for the very first time, creating new opportunities for colleagues across the business to learn, connect and grow. The programme at our Green Street production site and our office in London’s Agar Street featured a wide range of practical development topics, including emotional intelligence, managing difficult conversations, storytelling, change management and finance for non-finance professionals. Interactive workshops, coaching sessions and team activities helped make learning engaging, accessible and relevant to everyday work. A particular highlight was offering a programme for night shift colleagues at Green Street, ensuring more employees could benefit from the experience. Across both locations, colleagues also came together to celebrate the diversity of our workforce through cultural activities and shared experiences that strengthened connections across teams. The success of SkillsLab reflects Kao’s ongoing commitment to creating meaningful learning opportunities and fostering a culture where people can continuously develop, collaborate and succeed together.

Was, wenn dein nächstes Wochenende nach Inspiration, Community, Haarfarbe und Wien aussieht? ✨ Bei der Celebration of Color erwartet dich mehr als ein Bühnenprogramm: spannende Shows, Look & Learn Sessions, neue Impulse für deinen Salon und jede Menge Color Expertise. Und auch abseits der Stage gestaltest du dein Wochenende selbst – mit Yoga, Running, Street Art, Kultur, Mocktail Mixing oder einer interaktiven Wien-Tour. Dazu: Zeit für Austausch, neue Kontakte und gemeinsames Feiern. 🫶 ➡️ Goldwell Celebration of Color · Wien · 17. – 19.10.2026 🎟️ Sichere dir jetzt dein Ticket über den Button unten und erlebe ein Wochenende voller Haarfarbe, Kreativität und Community.