Yesterday, The Estée Lauder Companies has named Brian Franz as its first-ever chief technology, data and analytics officer, effective April 21. Franz will report directly to president and CEO Stéphane de La Faverie and join the company’s executive leadership team.
In this newly created role, Franz will oversee Estée Lauder’s global technology and data strategy, unifying its information technology, digital technology and experience, and enterprise data teams. His leadership will focus on driving technology innovation, enhancing business agility, and advancing personalized consumer experiences across the company’s portfolio.
Franz brings a wealth of experience in technology and business transformation. Prior to joining Estée Lauder, he served as executive vice president, global CIO, and head of enterprise resiliency at State Street. He has also held senior leadership positions at Diageo PLC, where he was chief productivity officer and CIO, and at PepsiCo International as CIO. Earlier in his career, Franz held leadership roles at GE Capital and AT&T.
“As we drive our bold Beauty Reimagined vision, Brian’s deep expertise and fresh perspectives will be pivotal in executing the biggest technology and operational transformation in our company’s history,” said de La Faverie. “His experience in modernizing infrastructure, building resilient platforms, and advancing AI-driven capabilities will help us evolve into a more agile and consumer-focused organization.”
Franz’s appointment comes as Estée Lauder works to rebound from recent financial headwinds. In February, the company reported a better-than-expected second-quarter sales decline of 6% to $4 billion, outperforming analyst forecasts. As part of a broader restructuring plan to restore growth and profitability, the company is implementing up to 7,000 job cuts globally.
