Honouring excellence across corporate leadership, innovation, and impact.
Each year, ESCP honours three graduates whose careers reflect the diversity, depth, and purpose-driven ambition of its alumni community. Selected from numerous nominees across the globe, the Alumni of the Year represent leadership across three dimensions: large-scale corporate influence, socially conscious entrepreneurship, and innovation that puts people and the planet first.
Meet the 2025 ESCP Alumni of the Year
Nadège Vignaud (ESCP 1997)
General Manager, Coty France | Winner, Corporate Category
On success: “Success doesn’t mean being flawless—it means moving forward despite your mistakes.”
Leading at scale
Nadège Vignaud has spent her career navigating fast-moving consumer sectors—from luxury cosmetics to food and retail—across Europe and the Middle East. Today, she is General Manager at Coty France, in one of the group’s key markets, overseeing brands that shape consumer tastes across fragrance, makeup, and skincare.
Her leadership blends operational precision with global perspective, honed at companies like Nestlé and Harvey Nichols. Across all her roles, she has steered teams through transformation and growth—always with a strong commercial lens and an instinct for the long game.
The Corporate category honours alumni who lead within major organisations, demonstrating strategic influence and inspirational leadership at scale.
Other 2025 nominees:
- Stéphanie de Bouard Rivoal (MS 2007), CEO, Château Angelus
- Anis El Mekaoui (MS 2003), Managing Director, Groupe Roche Morocco
- Ahmadou Moustapha Ndiaye (ESCP 90), Country Director pour le Maghreb et Malte, The World Bank
Ilyas Anane (MiM 2018)
Co-founder, Vitable | Winner, Creators Category
On what keeps him motivated as a founder: “A quiet, steady form of persistence—especially when the entrepreneurial spark dims or the excitement fluctuates.”
Building wellness into the everyday
Driven by a desire to launch his own venture, Ilyas Anane arrived at ESCP with entrepreneurship in mind. A multi-campus education and an enlightening gap-year internship in Singapore helped turn that ambition into action.
What began as a business school idea is now Vitable, one of Asia-Pacific’s fastest-growing personalised wellness brands, with over $20 million raised and over 20 million vitamin packs delivered.
Recognised by Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia, Ilyas credits his breakthrough to a pivotal conversation with fellow Alumni of the Year Julien Sylvain, co-founder of Tediber—proof that the ESCP network continues to inspire long after graduation.
The Creators category celebrates alumni making a positive impact on society or the planet through innovative, purpose-led ventures.
Other 2025 nominees:
- Raphaelle Covilette (MS 2009), CEO, Kokoroe
- Camille de Dominicis (MSc 2013), Managing Director, Eminente
- Nicolas Guyon (MiM 2005), Co-founder, MyConnecting AI
- Rachel Pregun (MiM 2013), Co-founder, project b.
- Gabriela Salord (MEB 2012), CEO, Rowsey
Pierre Tucoulat (MiM 2012)
Founder, Zeste; Co-founder, The Good Fab | Winner, For Good Category
On the qualities that led him to where he is today: “I would say perseverance. It’s this trait (shared with the rest of the team) that enables us to fight in our own way for European craft and industrial know-how.”
Redesigning industry for impact
Pierre Tucoulat is part of a new generation of European entrepreneurs betting on local production, functional design, and environmental integrity. After starting his career in strategy consulting, he turned to entrepreneurship with a belief that products should serve both people and the planet.
With Zeste, he created the first stainless steel water bottle 100% made in France. But bringing it to life wasn’t simply a design challenge; it required reinventing an entire production line from scratch with the company’s industrial collaborators.
Today, through Zeste and The Good Fab—a B Corp-certified company producing sustainable, transparently sourced corporate gifts—Pierre continues to reimagine how design, ethics, and production can align.
The For Good category recognises entrepreneurs building the economy of tomorrow through ambitious, innovative, and high-potential projects.
Other 2025 nominees:
- Edouard Gasser (MiM 2009), CEO & Co-founder, Tilak Healthcare
- Thomas Groell (MiM 2016), CEO & Co-founder, JIB
- Joelle Itoua Owona (MiM 2009), CEO & Co-founder, AfriWell Health
Honouring the winners during an unforgettable evening
The Alumni of the Year awards were presented during the 2025 ESCP Alumni Summer Party, held on June 13 at the Longchamp Hippodrome in Paris. More than 650 alumni attended, from recent graduates to international senior leaders. The evening featured live music, a DJ set, vibrant conversations, and a brief but memorable thunderstorm that did little to dampen the spirit.
Whether reconnecting with classmates or discovering new stories, the event reminded everyone that the strength of the ESCP community lies in its diversity, generosity, and global vision.
Stay connected year-round via the ESCP Alumni platform to discover events, news, and opportunities worldwide.
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