In the words of Linda Levy, president of The Fragrance Foundation, “Everyone is here tonight.”
So it was at the 2026 Circle of Champions Dinner on Tuesday night, where beauty executives, founders, retailers and fragrance suppliers all gathered to honor David Greenberg, chairman and former chief executive officer of L’Oréal USA, as he was inducted into the circle.
Greenberg’s presenters included Leslie Marino, president of professional products division at L’Oréal USA, and Silvia Galfo, president of L’Oréal Luxe USA.
The night kicked off with a brief cocktail hour, during which conversations of fragrance wardrobing and the future of the business were heard on both sides of the ballroom before guests were asked to take their seats.
Levy then took the stage to deliver her opening remarks, recognizing past inductees — including Jerry Vittoria, Tony Spring and Artemis Patrick — as well as Annette Green, the former president of The Fragrance Foundation, who died earlier this month at 102. Green created the organization’s annual awards ceremony and inaugurated the Circle of Champions. “She was a woman ahead of her time,” Levy said.
After dinner, Levy welcomed Marino on stage to share a few words about her esteemed colleague.
“David Greenberg is a glass-half-full kind of guy. He’s probably the most enthusiastic about beauty of anybody I’ve known,” Marino said, adding that they both hail from Boston. “Yes, we park the car in Harvard Yard. We drink Donuts, not Starbucks, and we live happily in a New York state of mind, quietly rooting for the Red Sox.”
Marino continued on to recognize Greenberg’s leadership beyond beauty. “He’s one of the most empowering leaders I’ve ever worked for. He encourages you to show up as your authentic self, gives you the space to grow and learn and make mistakes and take risks,” she said.
The same sentiment was shared by Galfo, who reflected on the advice Greenberg has given her over the years and a memory of him that’s stuck with her. “He’s always reminded me to stay true to myself and lead in my own way. He’s also told something very special: ‘Slow down to go faster.’ In every connect, lunch and drive-by, he’s made time for me and my team, offering encouragement, support and, when it is most needed, a good laugh.
“I’ll never forget L’Oréal’s 70th anniversary party,” she said. “We were 3,000 people gathered in a massive ballroom at the Javits Center. There was not one spot without a platinum touch. We were dancing, laughing, singing. But the highlight was when he introduced Earth, Wind and Fire to the stage and spent the whole night on the dance floor.”
After Galfo finished her speech, Levy presented Greenberg with his award, officially inducting him into the Circle of Champions. The executive then spoke about his career in beauty, from when he was evaluating scents for Right Guard deodorants to being appointed chief executive officer of L’Oréal USA.
“I started as a marketer, and I end as a marketer because I’m now marketing our industry for beauty,” he said of his current role, which involves acting as an industry liaison with legislators in Washington, D.C. “We’re not just selling wonderful beauty products that consumers love, but we’re changing the world. Think about how intrinsically beauty is linked to culture, and as we all know, culture is the underpinning of society, and it’s always evolving. That’s why I often say that beauty isn’t silly, beauty isn’t superficial, beauty is essential.
“You cannot live without beauty. If the world had no beauty, it would be a very dark and sad place, and it certainly would not smell very good,” Greenberg said.