Yesterday, according to WWD, Jane Lauder, Chief Data Officer and Executive Vice President of Enterprise Marketing at Estée Lauder Companies, will be stepping down from her role at the end of this year, signaling a significant shift in leadership at the company founded by her grandmother, Estée Lauder, in 1946. Although she will no longer be involved in daily operations, she will retain her board membership and continue as a key shareholder.
During her 28-year career with the company, Jane Lauder held numerous leadership roles, including Global Brand President for Clinique, Darphin, and Origins, where she championed innovations in technology and brand positioning. She was instrumental in expanding Clinique’s digital sales and introduced the Clinique Clinical Reality diagnostic tool. At Origins, she led the development of successful product lines like Plantscription and Ginzing. Her leadership and commitment to innovation have been widely praised, and she has been a vocal advocate for female representation in leadership roles, encouraging women to envision themselves in top positions.
This decision comes as Estée Lauder faces growing speculation about its future CEO, with current CEO Fabrizio Freda set to retire by the end of next year. Initially, Lauder and Executive Group President Stéphane de La Faverie were considered top internal candidates. With Lauder’s departure, de La Faverie is now expected to be the leading contender for the CEO position.
In an internal memo, Lauder emphasized her ongoing commitment to the company’s strategic direction, particularly in its Profit Recovery and Growth Plan, and expressed her intent to support the company’s “transformational change” as an advisor through the fiscal year. As a board member, she plans to focus on key strategic priorities for long-term growth.
Lauder’s departure marks the first time there will be no Lauder family members actively working within the daily operations of the company, although Aerin Lauder remains a consultant for her namesake brand under the Estée Lauder umbrella. The Lauder family still holds substantial influence, owning 35% of the company’s common stock and about 84% of voting power.
