Leader In Public Affairs, Jayne Almond, Public Affairs Director UKI, L’Oréal, “Look after your network and treat people well”

Mace | 30th October 2026 | In-House Public Affairs, Westminster Index
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Jayne Almond’s career has taken her from Brussels and local government to some of the UK’s best-known consumer brands. L’Oréal’s UK and Ireland public affairs director tells The Mace why in-house teams must bring the outside world into the business — and why strong networks remain the profession’s most valuable asset.

Jayne Almond’s route into public affairs began outside Westminster. Her first political role was working for an MEP in Brussels before moving through local, London and regional government — experiences that gave her an early understanding of policymaking beyond the traditional parliamentary route. It was only later, she says, that she “got the public affairs bug” after joining Morrisons’ public affairs team. Since then, her career has spanned trade associations, food policy, technology and consumer brands — from the Federation of Small Businesses and the Food and Drink Federation to Deliveroo and now L’Oréal, where she leads public affairs for the UK and Ireland. L’Oréal is the world’s largest beauty company, operating across cosmetics, skincare and consumer products. Its public affairs work spans regulation, sustainability, trade and consumer policy — areas where politics, culture and business increasingly intersect. For Almond, the appeal of in-house advocacy lies in depth and connec...

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