“Chris is a visionary, global leader who is deeply admired at ELC and recognized across the beauty industry worldwide. With his extensive international background, Chris’ leadership agility and deep insights into our diverse markets and consumers around the world have made an indelible impact on our business,” said Fabrizio Freda, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Known for his extraordinary business acumen, ability to build high-performing teams, and his track record of achieving strong results in both nascent and established markets globally, Chris has exemplified a commitment to excellence.”
For the past five years, Chris led ELC’s North America business, a highly complex, competitive, and fast-evolving prestige beauty landscape. He oversaw the region’s pivotal retail and organizational transformation, establishing critical capabilities to drive growth and operational efficiencies.
Additionally, Chris elevated data analytics and insights to unlock new and granular opportunities across brands, consumers, and channels. His expertise in channel strategy has accelerated the online business and strengthened the region’s retail relationships, optimizing brick-and-mortar by prioritizing high-performing doors and specialty-multi, and driving brand-building distribution in freestanding stores and emerging channels through modernized omni-experiences.
Chris consistently transformed the business while running it – pivoting with agility and resilience to accelerate recovery in a dynamic environment, while navigating numerous headwinds in North America. Over the past year and a half, he collaborated with his leadership team to steer the region through the complexities of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as broader macro and social issues, leading with the company’s values and the wellbeing of ELC’s people in mind.
Under Chris’ steady leadership, the North American business returned to growth in fiscal year 2021 and has continued its momentum into the first quarter of fiscal year 2022. To start the new fiscal year, North America delivered strong net sales growth with sales increases across every category. Chris and his leadership team have laid a healthy foundation for long-term, sustainable recovery and growth in North America.
Chris started at ELC in Clinique Marketing in the U.K. and Ireland in 1987. After a period away from the company, where Chris took on senior marketing executive and general management roles for Unilever across Europe, North America and Asia/Pacific, he returned in 2000, as General Manager/Regional Vice President for Clinique, Asia/Pacific, where he helped grow the China and Japan affiliates in their early days. In 2005, he was named General Manager of the recently-established Russian affiliate and in 2008, he became Senior Vice President, Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, India, and Africa.
Chris was appointed Managing Director, U.K. and Ireland in 2012. While there, he helped pioneer the company’s successful evolution from a traditional department store model into a diversified omnichannel business, leading in brand-building channels such as e/m-commerce and specialty-multi. He was promoted to President, U.K. and Ireland in 2014, and during his tenure, the business generated consistent double-digit, compound annual sales growth and tripled online net sales.
“We are grateful for Chris’ tremendous contributions to our business, and the resolve and dedication he has demonstrated to push boundaries, invent the unexpected and bring the best to ELC and beyond. He has championed our company values and embodied our culture both in the Field and alongside his teams, continuously fueling collaboration and creativity,” said William P. Lauder, Executive Chairman. “Across our global ELC family and the wider industry, Chris has nurtured strong relationships and his hospitable nature, dynamic leadership, and deep retail expertise will be truly missed. On behalf of the company and the Lauder family, I would like to wish Chris the very best in his well-deserved retirement.”
About The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is one of the world’s leading manufacturers, marketers and sellers 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, Lab Series, Origins, Tommy Hilfiger, M·A·C, La Mer, Bobbi Brown, Donna Karan New York, DKNY, Aveda, Jo Malone London, Bumble and bumble, Michael Kors, Darphin Paris, TOM FORD BEAUTY, Smashbox, Ermenegildo Zegna, AERIN, Le Labo, Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, GLAMGLOW, KILIAN PARIS, Too Faced, Dr.Jart+, and the DECIEM family of brands, including The Ordinary and NIOD.
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