Hyundai vs L'Oreal: Founders, CEOs and History
Hyundai was founded in 1967 by Chung Ju-yung and is led by Jose Munoz. L'Oreal was founded in 1909 by Eugène Schueller and is led by Nicolas Hieronimus.
Company facts
Founders
Hyundai
Chung Ju-yung
Chung Ju-yung was a South Korean industrialist and the founder of the Hyundai group. He left the poor farming village where he grew up and in 1947 started a small civil engineering company.
L'Oreal
Eugène Schueller
L'Oréal possesses a scientific, chemical founding story, rooted not in the glamorous salons of Paris, but in the rigorous, heavily experimental laboratories of an effective young chemist desperately trying to solve a specific cosmetic problem.
CEOs and their tenures
Hyundai
- Chung Eui-sun2019–present
Executive Chair, Hyundai Motor Group (former co-CEO of Hyundai Motor)
He successfully elevated Hyundai and Kia from budget alternatives into highly desirable, premium-leaning brands, capturing significant global EV market share.
Source - Jaehoon Chang2021–2024
President and Chief Executive Officer
As co-CEO, he drove record-breaking operating profits in 2023 by prioritizing high-margin SUVs and luxury Genesis models amid global supply chain shortages.
Source - Jose Munoz2025–present
President and Chief Executive Officer
Munoz ran Hyundai's North American business and served as global COO before becoming CEO. Since 2025 he has led the response to U.S. tariffs, the $26 billion U.S. investment plan through 2028, the hybrid expansion and the 2030 target of 5.55 million sales.
Source
L'Oreal
- Jean-Paul Agon2006–2021
Chairman of the Board (former CEO)
Jean-Paul Agon led L'Oréal as CEO for 15 years, overseeing the company's transformation from a European beauty leader into the world's dominant global beauty company.
Source - Nicolas Hieronimus2021–present
Chief Executive Officer
Nicolas Hieronimus joined L'Oréal in 1987 and spent 30 years in brand management and divisional leadership before being named CEO in May 2021, succeeding Jean-Paul Agon.
Source
Timeline: Hyundai and L'Oreal side by side
1909L'Oreal
Company Founded
Eugène Schueller registers the Société Française de Teintures Inoffensives pour Cheveux in Paris with 800 francs in capital, beginning commercial sale of his Oréale hair dye formula to Parisian hairdressers.
1912L'Oreal
First International Expansion
L'Oréal hair dyes reach distribution in the Netherlands, Austria, and Italy, establishing the international distribution ambition that would eventually span 150 countries.
1929L'Oreal
Imédia First Consumer Hair Dye
L'Oréal introduces Imédia, the world's first hair dye product formulated for home application by consumers, marking the company's pivot from purely professional B2B to consumer-facing distribution.
1963L'Oreal
Euronext Paris IPO
L'Oréal lists on the Paris Stock Exchange, providing capital for accelerated international expansion and establishing the public shareholder structure that persists today alongside the Bettencourt family's controlling stake.
1967Hyundai
Hyundai Motor Company Founded
Chung Ju-yung established Hyundai Motor Company, creating the automotive arm that would become the flagship of South Korea's car industry.
1971L'Oreal
'Because You're Worth It' Campaign Launched
Copywriter Ilon Specht creates the 'Because You're Worth It' tagline for L'Oréal Paris one of the most enduring advertising phrases in consumer goods history, reframing beauty products as expressions of female self-worth rather than instruments of male approva…
1975Hyundai
Hyundai Pony
The Hyundai Pony became Korea's first mass-produced passenger car and gave Hyundai a domestic platform for exports and engineering learning.
1986Hyundai
U.S. Market Entry
Hyundai entered the U.S. market with the Excel, rapidly building awareness as a value-oriented global automaker.
1991L'Oreal
Acquisition of La Roche-Posay
L'Oréal acquires La Roche-Posay, the French dermo-cosmetic brand founded in 1975, establishing its first significant presence in the pharmacy channel and laying groundwork for what would become the Dermatological Beauty division.
1996L'Oreal
Maybelline Acquisition
L'Oréal acquires Maybelline New York from Wasserstein Perella for approximately $758 million, instantly becoming the global leader in mass-market color cosmetics and significantly expanding its North American market position.
1998Hyundai
Kia Stake Acquired
Hyundai acquired a controlling stake in Kia during the Asian financial crisis, creating the basis for Hyundai Motor Group's modern platform scale.
2000L'Oreal
Matrix and Kiehl's Acquisitions
L'Oréal acquires professional hair care brand Matrix and American apothecary brand Kiehl's Since 1851, broadening both the professional channel and the prestige specialty retail presence in the U.S. Market.
2015Hyundai
Genesis Luxury Brand
Hyundai launched Genesis as a standalone luxury brand, supporting premiumization and higher-margin global growth.
2017L'Oreal
CeraVe Acquisition $1.3 Billion
L'Oréal acquires CeraVe, AcneFree, and Ambi from Valeant Pharmaceuticals for $1.3 billion.
2018L'Oreal
ModiFace Acquisition Beauty Tech
L'Oréal acquires ModiFace, a Toronto-based augmented reality and artificial intelligence beauty technology company, establishing a proprietary virtual try-on and skin diagnostic platform deployed across brand apps, retail partner websites, and social media pla…
2020Hyundai
E-GMP EV Platform
Hyundai introduced its dedicated E-GMP electric-vehicle platform, giving models such as Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 fast-charging and packaging advantages.
2021Hyundai
Boston Dynamics Acquisition
Hyundai Motor Group acquired a controlling stake in Boston Dynamics, adding robotics to its long-term mobility and automation strategy.
2021L'Oreal
Nicolas Hieronimus Becomes CEO
Nicolas Hieronimus, a 30-year L'Oréal veteran who led the Luxe division's transformation, succeeds Jean-Paul Agon as Chief Executive Officer, bringing strategic continuity while accelerating digital commerce and sustainability investment.
2023L'Oreal
Aesop Acquisition $2.5 Billion
L'Oréal completes the acquisition of Aesop, the Australian premium natural beauty brand, from Natura &Co for $2.525 billion the company's largest acquisition in over a decade and a strategic entry into the premium wellness and natural beauty segment.
2025Hyundai
Jose Munoz Becomes CEO
Jose Munoz, previously Hyundai's global COO and head of its North American business, became President and CEO effective January 1, 2025, succeeding Jaehoon Chang. He is the first non-Korean to lead the company.
2025Hyundai
Record Revenue, Tariff-Hit Profit
Hyundai reported FY2025 revenue of ~$132 billion (KRW 186.25 trillion), up 6.3%, while operating profit fell 19.5% to ~$8.14 billion (KRW 11.47 trillion) and net profit fell 21.7% to ~$7.36 billion (KRW 10.36 trillion), largely due to U.S. tariffs.
2025Hyundai
Georgia Battery Plant Raid
In September 2025, U.S. immigration agents detained hundreds of workers, many of them Korean, at the Hyundai-LG Energy Solution battery plant under construction in Georgia, delaying its opening by months.
2025L'Oreal
FY2025 Sales Reach 44.052 Billion
LOral reported 44.052 billion in FY2025 sales, 4.0% like-for-like growth, 8.892 billion in operating profit, 6.127 billion in net profit after non-controlling interests, and more than 95,000 employees.
2026Hyundai
Full Ownership of Boston Dynamics
In July 2026 Hyundai Motor Group moved to buy SoftBank's remaining stake in Boston Dynamics, a deal reported at about $325 million, making the robotics company wholly owned.
2026Hyundai
2026 CEO Investor Day
At its August 2026 CEO Investor Day, Hyundai reaffirmed a 2030 target of 5.55 million global sales and detailed its $26 billion U.S. investment plan through 2028.
2026L'Oreal
Kering Beauté Acquisition Completed
L'Oréal closed the ~$4.52 billion (€4 billion) purchase of Kering Beauté, including Creed, with 50-year licences for Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga and, from July 2027, Gucci.
2026L'Oreal
Record First-Half Margin
H1 2026 sales reached ~$26.9 billion (€23.77 billion), up 6.8% like-for-like, with a record 21.3% operating margin.
Acquisitions
L'Oreal
- Kering Beauté (including Creed)2026$4B
- Aesop2023$2.5B
- CeraVe, AcneFree, and Ambi (from Valeant Pharmaceuticals)2017$1.3B
- IT Cosmetics2016$1.2B
- Maybelline New York1996$758M
Questions about Hyundai vs L'Oreal
Who is the CEO of Hyundai Motor Company and L'Oréal SA?
Hyundai Motor Company is led by Jose Munoz and L'Oréal SA is led by Nicolas Hieronimus. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Hyundai Motor Company founded vs L'Oréal SA?
L'Oréal SA was founded in 1909 — 58 years before Hyundai Motor Company, which was founded in 1967. L'Oréal SA's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Hyundai Motor Company.
How many employees does Hyundai Motor Company have compared to L'Oréal SA?
Hyundai Motor Company employs approximately 123,000 people, while L'Oréal SA employs approximately 95,000. Hyundai Motor Company has the larger workforce at 123,000 employees, compared to L'Oréal SA's 95,000. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Hyundai Motor Company and L'Oréal SA headquartered?
Hyundai Motor Company is headquartered in South Korea and L'Oréal SA is headquartered in France. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Hyundai Motor Company and L'Oréal SA?
Hyundai Motor Company was founded by Chung Ju-yung. L'Oréal SA was founded by Eugène Schueller.
Which company has a longer operating history — Hyundai Motor Company or L'Oréal SA?
L'Oréal SA has been operating for approximately 117 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Hyundai Motor Company has been in operation for around 59 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Hyundai vs L'Oreal overview