United States
The Estée Lauder Companies Announces Leadership Updates
Press Release, 30 Jan 2020
NEW YORK, NY – January 30, 2020 – Today, The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL) announced the following global leadership updates, effective January 1, 2020:
- Justin Boxford has been promoted to Global Brand President, La Mer. He will continue reporting to Sandra Main, Global Brand President, Bobbi Brown and La Mer.
- Philippe Pinatel has been promoted to Global Brand President, M·A·C Cosmetics. He will continue reporting to John Demsey, Executive Group President.
- Deborah Royer has been promoted to Global Brand President and Chief Creative Officer, Le Labo. She will continue reporting jointly to Fabrice Weber, President, Prestige and Artisanal Fragrances and New Brands Empowerment Group, as well as John Demsey.
- Christopher Wood has been named President, North Asia (Japan, Korea), Dr. Jart+ and Do The Right Thing. He will report jointly to Jane Hertzmark Hudis, Group President, as well as to Mark Loomis, President, Asia/Pacific.
“As a company, we strive to create opportunities that harness the unique talents of our dynamic and high-potential leaders and fuel our multiple engines of growth strategy,” said Fabrizio Freda, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC). “Justin, Philippe, Deborah and Christopher each demonstrate the strategic leadership and vision to deliver impressive results today, while transforming their respective business areas to support ELC’s continued growth and win into the future.”
Justin Boxford Promoted to Global Brand President, La Mer
Justin Boxford has been appointed Global Brand President of La Mer after three years leading the brand as Global General Manager. During that time, he has accelerated growth in fast-growing channels and markets, transformed the brand’s digital platforms and increased consumer engagement globally. In his new role, Boxford will help engineer La Mer’s continued growth by nurturing and strengthening its unique brand equity, focusing on its aspiration to remain the unrivaled luxury skin care brand around the world.
Boxford joined La Mer with deep knowledge and experience with Asian markets and consumers after spending over 10 years leading both the flagship Estée Lauder brand and TOM FORD BEAUTY internationally and in Asia/Pacific (APAC). In those roles, he was effective in growing the business for both brands by accelerating online, creating omnichannel experiences that resonated in the regions and securing greater local relevance for each with consumers in China and with traveling Chinese consumers.
During Boxford’s tenure at La Mer, the brand more than doubled in size, and in fiscal year 2018, La Mer exceeded $1 billion in net sales, only the fourth Estée Lauder Companies brand to do so. Boxford has championed product innovations including The Luminous Lifting Cushion Foundation SPF 20 and The Treatment Lotion Hydrating Mask, fostered new consumer engagement through groundbreaking collaborations such as a creative partnership with famed photographer Mario Sorrenti, guided the brand’s expansion into Tmall and led its increased focus on digital-first content. Together, these initiatives have amplified the brand’s reach and attracted new consumers, particularly in Asia and Travel Retail. In addition, Boxford has been a key contributor to corporate transformation initiatives that have implemented best-in-class processes to enable growth opportunities in Asia and other areas of the company.
“Justin’s extensive luxury beauty experience and global point of view, combined with his expertise in brand-building, driving engagement, and omnichannel strategies make him uniquely suited to lead La Mer’s next phase of global growth,” said Jane Hertzmark Hudis, Group President. “I am thrilled Justin will continue leading La Mer as Global Brand President, further leveraging the brand’s luxury skin care position and engaging new generations of consumers.”
Philippe Pinatel Promoted to Global Brand President, M·A·C Cosmetics
Since joining M·A·C Cosmetics in 2018 as Senior Vice President and Global General Manager, Philippe Pinatel has brought versatile capabilities to the brand, and has driven positive momentum across key areas of the business. Pinatel has led the brand’s evolved strategic direction and vision, expertly developing new capabilities in a dynamic beauty market while leveraging the historical strengths on which M·A·C Cosmetics was built. During this transformative time, Pinatel assembled a strong management team, who under his leadership have led the turnaround of one of ELC’s largest and most iconic brands by reshaping communications, consumer marketing and distribution diversification while increasing consumer centricity at M·A·C. Pinatel has successfully built multiple engines of growth for M·A·C across categories, regions and channels, while transforming the brand’s organization model through a new approach to talent, capability-building in areas such as creative, digital, marketing and commercial, and establishing a solid infrastructure to support the brand’s continued growth aspirations. Fiscal Year 2019 proved to be a crucial inflection point for the beauty powerhouse.
Pinatel has more than 20 years of global retail and beauty experience. Most recently he led several key functions, including merchandising, retail, operations and international as President and Chief Operations Officer at digital-first beauty subscription service Birchbox. Pinatel’s diverse global experience also includes previous roles as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Sephora Canada and Vice President and General Manager of Sephora Inside JCPenney where his leadership was integral in driving omnichannel initiatives. As Global Brand President, M·A·C Cosmetics, Pinatel will continue to lead the transformation efforts at M·A·C, maintaining a focus on evolving the brand’s culture and organizational model, targeting new capabilities and building a solid infrastructure to support growth and execution. Pinatel’s deep understanding of the retail and beauty industries, consumer and digital marketing expertise and his proven ability to envision M·A·C Cosmetic’s founding credo through a modern lens make him uniquely suited to continue leading the brand into its next chapter of growth.
Deborah Royer Promoted to Global Brand President and Chief Creative Officer, Le Labo
With nearly 20 years of experience in the beauty industry, Deborah Royer is a visionary and highly talented executive with global expertise in fragrance, retail dynamics, creative development and brand building. Royer was appointed Global General Manager and Chief Creative Officer in 2015, following ELC’s acquisition of Le Labo one year earlier. To date, Royer has expertly leveraged the scale, expertise and global capacities of ELC while ensuring Le Labo maintains the entrepreneurial mindset, unique underground cult positioning and nuanced touches that have been part of the brand’s special DNA since its founding. Under Royer’s leadership during this formative time, Le Labo has experienced double-digit global growth, developed new capabilities, partnerships and categories, and expanded globally while continuing to nurture the brand’s ethos and DNA.
Before joining ELC in 2015, Royer held roles at L’Oréal developing designer perfume brands as well as her privately-owned company, a Paris-based fashion line called “Piece d’Anarchive,” where she honed her outstanding leadership abilities and creative expertise. As Global Brand President and Chief Creative Officer, Royer will continue to execute a growth model for Le Labo that leverages a successful go-to-market strategy, fosters the brand’s unique appeal with consumers and promotes a culturally innovative and collaborative workplace. Royer’s exceptional leadership, eye for design and understanding of emerging trends in the worlds of fashion, beauty and art, make her the ideal leader to further drive Le Labo’s growth globally.
“Philippe’s and Deborah’s respective promotions recognize their outstanding leadership and ability to cultivate and nurture two iconic brands,” said John Demsey, Executive Group President. “Artistry, culture and creativity are at the heart of both M·A·C Cosmetics and Le Labo, and Philippe and Deborah have each demonstrated the ability to preserve and leverage the core brand equities while driving growth and accelerating the strategic evolution of their businesses to meet the needs of consumers today.”
Christopher Wood Named President, North Asia (Japan, Korea), Dr. Jart+ and Do The Right Thing
As President, North Asia (Japan, Korea), Dr. Jart+ and Do The Right Thing, Christopher Wood will take on brand leadership responsibilities following the completion of ELC’s acquisition of Have & Be Co. Ltd., the Seoul-based, global skin care company behind Dr. Jart+ and men’s grooming brand Do The Right Thing in 2019. In this new role, he will be responsible for overseeing the continued growth of Dr. Jart+ and Do The Right Thing around the world. Wood will report jointly to Jane Hertzmark Hudis, Group President, for his brand responsibilities, and to Mark Loomis, President, APAC, for his revised regional responsibilities including oversight of ELC’s Korea and Japan affiliates, as well as select corporate functions for the region.
With more than 30 years of global experience in prestige cosmetics, Wood has amassed a record of accomplishments across Asia, Europe and North America. Since 2018, Wood has served as Senior Vice President, Asia/Pacific, where he was responsible for the Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and emerging South East Asia markets, as well as several corporate functions. Wood has partnered closely with the Have & Be leadership team following ELC’s initial investment in 2015, and has also served on Have & Be’s board of directors for the past four years, making him uniquely suited to take on this role. Working closely with the Have & Be leadership team, Wood will leverage his engaging and innovative leadership style, and deep understanding and affinity for Dr. Jart+ and Do The Right Thing to lead these brands to the next phase of global growth.
“We’re delighted that Christopher will lead our first acquisition in the Asia/Pacific region, given his deep knowledge of Korea and the APAC region with all its opportunities,” said Mark Loomis, President, Asia/Pacific. “This is coupled with his exceptional understanding of Korean beauty, trends in the region, and his proven abilities as a brand-builder. I know Christopher is excited to take on this new challenge and I have no doubt that he will do an outstanding job.”
About The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products. The company’s products are sold in approximately 150 countries and territories under brand names including: Estée Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Prescriptives, Lab Series, Origins, Tommy Hilfiger, M·A·C, Kiton, La Mer, Bobbi Brown, Donna Karan New York, DKNY, Aveda, Jo Malone London, Bumble and bumble, Michael Kors, Darphin, Tom Ford, Smashbox, Ermenegildo Zegna, AERIN, RODIN olio lusso, Le Labo, Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, GLAMGLOW, By Kilian, BECCA, Too Faced and Dr. Jart+.