Theresa Huang, managing director of L'Oreal Singapore, has recently announced her early retirement.

According to a Straits Times report today, the 52-year-old "icon" said that she had planned for and was looking forward to retiring early to pursue some of her other interests.

She will leave the company at the end of this year.

Her career with the company spans more than 25 years.

Mr. Jochen Zaumseil, Managing Director Asia Zone, L'Oreal, said: "Theresa's legacy in Singapore is remarkable. She is responsible for having created and built up the Luxury Products Division of the company in Singapore and has successfully created the country management structure when the two subsidiary agents merged."

Ms Huang is married to a businessman and has two sons aged 25 and 19.

She has not spoken to the press yet but has issued a letter, mostly to trade and business partners announcing her retirement intentions.

Her successor, Mr Jean-Francois Couve, is the current country manager of L'Oreal Malaysia and will continue in his position even after taking over Ms Huang.

The beauty brand employs about 370 people in Singapore and owns 18 beauty brands such as Kerastase, Kiehl???s, Lancome, Shu Uemura and Biotherm.