The Estée Lauder Companies is reshaping its leadership and operating model. This is as it works to restore growth and sharpen its focus on consumers. They are unveiling a new global organizational structure and executive team under President and CEO Stéphane de La Faverie.
A new “Beauty Reimagined” structure
Under the company’s “Beauty Reimagined” vision and action plan, Estée Lauder is redesigning its organization to become “the best consumer-centric prestige beauty company in the world. The goal is to return to stronger sales growth and profitability. The plan centers on a flatter, leaner structure and simplified operations. Thus, the business can react faster to trends, make decisions more quickly, and better serve regional consumer needs.
To support this, the company is consolidating its operations into four geographic clusters, aiming to unlock greater synergies, reduce duplication, and speed up locally relevant innovation.
New executive team to drive the plan
Alongside the structural changes, de La Faverie said, “Earlier today, I announced Beauty Reimagined, our bold strategic vision for the future of our incredible Company. To deliver our action plan priorities, I am pleased to announce my new Executive Team and structure, reflecting the need to create a flatter, leaner organisation and simplified operations across the business to better serve our consumers.” He also announced a refreshed executive team combining elevated internal talent and new external hires. They all report directly to him. On the brand side, Jane Hertzmark Hudis will take on the new title of Executive Vice President, Chief Brand Officer. She is leading the company’s portfolio and focusing on core strengths. These include brand desirability, innovation, consumer experience, quality, and end‑to‑end execution.
In people leadership, following the retirement of former Chief Human Resources Officer Michael O’Hare, Michael Bowes has been named Executive Vice President, Chief People Officer. He is tasked with supporting cultural transformation. Also, he is building the leadership bench needed for the next phase of growth.
Faster decisions, fewer silos
Explaining the shift, de La Faverie said the new structure is designed to “create a flatter, leaner organisation” and “simplified operations across the business.” This way, Estée Lauder can “make decisions with greater speed and agility.” This involves breaking down silos. It also allows us to develop a leadership bench for the future.” He emphasized that the updated executive team brings together deep internal knowledge of the company’s brands and heritage. Additionally, it introduces fresh external perspectives.
The company expects the new model to “improve communication, accountability, collaboration and empowerment at every level of the organisation,” helping teams move from strategy to action more decisively.
Focus on core strengths in prestige beauty
Within the Beauty Reimagined framework, Estée Lauder is doubling down on areas where it already leads in global prestige beauty: brand desirability, product innovation, high-touch consumer experiences, strong quality control, and disciplined execution from development through retail. The company also plans to continue leveraging external partnerships across R&D and the value chain to gain specialised expertise and operate more efficiently.
While the press release does not change external financial reporting structures, it signals to investors and partners that Estée Lauder aims to reaccelerate growth by sharpening priorities, simplifying decision-making, and ensuring its brand portfolio is supported by a more agile, globally aligned leadership model.
