Estée Lauder Companies
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. has announced the appointment of Dr. René Lammers as Executive Vice President and Chief Research and Innovation Officer, effective October 1. He will report directly to Chief Executive Officer Stéphane de La Faverie.
Dr. René Lammers previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Science Officer at PepsiCo, where he was responsible for global R&D. Prior to PepsiCo, he held senior leadership roles at Unilever, focusing on technology development across personal care, home care, and laundry sectors.
In his new role as Chief Research and Innovation Officer, Dr. Lammers will lead the company’s global R&D operations, including product and clinical innovation, scientific affairs, regulatory strategy, and upstream technology. He will also oversee Estée Lauder’s global network of R&D and innovation centers, with a focus on accelerating trend-driven innovations with rapid go-to-market capabilities in high-growth segments.
Previously, analysts have pointed to a lack of meaningful innovation as a key factor hindering Estée Lauder’s growth. As such, enhancing innovation and agility has become central to the strategic agenda of new CEO Stéphane de La Faverie.
Dr. Lammers’ appointment completes de La Faverie’s executive leadership team. Other key appointments include: Jane Hertzmark Hudis as Executive Vice President and Chief Brand Officer; Tara Simon as President, Americas; and Amber English as President, Digital and Online Business, Americas.
Beiersdorf
German beauty group Beiersdorf has appointed Pierre Kröning as Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Beiersdorf Shared Services (BSS) and General Manager of Beiersdorf IT, effective September 1. He will report directly to Astrid Hermann, Chief Financial Officer of Beiersdorf AG.
Kröning has been with Beiersdorf for over 20 years, gaining extensive experience in IT, finance, and strategy. In 2020, he moved into the BSS division and most recently served as Director of Data & Analytics, Finance, and HR Applications. In that role, he played a key role in Beiersdorf’s ongoing digital transformation, including the implementation of a comprehensive data and analytics platform and the expansion of data-driven decision-making processes.
Beiersdorf IT is one of three main business divisions within Beiersdorf Shared Services GmbH (BSS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Beiersdorf AG. The division is headquartered in Hamburg, with branches in Poland, Mexico, and India, and is positioned as the “home of technology, data, and digitization.”
Parfums de Marly / Sprecher Berrier
Sprecher Berrier, the Middle Eastern luxury fragrance group and parent company of French perfume brands Parfums de Marly and Initio Parfums Privés, has appointed Patrice Béliard as Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1. He succeeds Julien Sausset, who is stepping down after nearly a decade of transformative leadership and sustained growth at Sprecher Berrier.
Béliard brings over 25 years of experience in the French and international luxury and beauty industries. He spent 16 years at Shiseido Group, including managing its U.S. subsidiary from 2011 to 2016. He joined Estée Lauder Companies in July 2016 and has overseen the operations of fragrance brands Kilian Paris and Frédéric Malle since 2022.
For Julien Sprecher, Executive Chairman of the Group and founder of Parfums de Marly, this appointment reflects the continuation of the brand’s strategic vision. He commented, “Patrice Béliard’s experience in both luxury and niche fragrance aligns perfectly with our ambitious goal of establishing our two brands as global leaders.”
The leadership transition comes amid strong momentum at Sprecher Berrier. For the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, the group reported sales of $775 million, up 41% year over year, driven by strong growth in key markets such as the U.S. and Europe. Sales of Parfums de Marly rose 39% year over year to $586 million, while Initio Parfums Privés grew 50% to $189 million.
Glossier
U.S.-based beauty brand Glossier has appointed Colin Walsh as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective October. Former CEO Kyle Leahy had previously announced plans to step down earlier this year.
Colin Walsh previously served as CEO of Ouai and the beauty division of Procter & Gamble.
Founded in 2014 by beauty influencer Emily Weiss, Glossier rose to fame as a digitally native brand and was once valued at $1 billion. After Weiss stepped down as CEO in 2022, Kyle Leahy has been in the role until now.
｜Source: Official press releases, Cosmetic Business
｜Image Credit: LinkedIn
｜Editor: LeZhi
