William P. Lauder is the son of Leonard and Evelyn Lauder and the grandson of Estée and Joseph Lauder. Mr. Lauder became Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Directors in July 2009. He was Chief Executive Officer from July 2004 through June 2009. During his five-year tenure as chief executive, he expanded the Company’s international presence and distribution channels and greatly strengthened the brand portfolio.

 

He joined the Company in 1986 as Regional Marketing Director of Clinique U.S.A. in the New York metro area. In 1990 he led the creation of the Origins brand and its innovative store-within-a store concept. He subsequently was promoted to several senior leadership positions; he led the worldwide businesses for Clinique and Origins and oversaw the Company’s free-standing stores and Internet business. In 2003 he became Chief Operating Officer, with oversight of all the Company’s global operations, as well as nine specialty brands and the retail business.

 

Under his leadership, Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion became the best-selling prestige skin care product in U.S. department stores and Clinique launched its first anti-aging product.

 

Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Lauder completed Macy’s Executive Training Program in New York City and was Associate Merchandising Manager of the New York Division/Dallas store when it opened in 1985.

 

John Demsey has been Group President, The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., since July 2006. In this role, he oversees Estée Lauder, M·A·C Cosmetics, Tom Ford Beauty, Prescriptives, Bobbi Brown, Jo Malone, La Mer and Smashbox Cosmetics.

 

Throughout his career Mr. Demsey has demonstrated a unique ability to establish a brand's authority while continuing to respect its heritage. By continually developing innovative products, cultivating new markets and establishing an unprecedented link between fashion, beauty and entertainment, he has led the brands in his portfolio to unparalleled growth and expansion.

 

From January 2005 through July 2006, Mr. Demsey served as Global Brand President of Estée Lauder and M·A·C, while also assuming responsibility for Sean John, Tom Ford Beauty and Prescriptives. On Estée Lauder, Mr. Demsey worked closely with Aerin Lauder, Senior Vice President, Creative Director, to enhance brand image through new models and breakthrough advertising campaigns. Mr. Demsey worked closely with designer Tom Ford to launch Tom Ford Beauty, including its successful Private Blend fragrances, and with Sean John to launch Sean John's top-selling fragrances.

 

From 1998 to 2005 Mr. Demsey served as President of M·A·C, where he grew the brand into the global makeup powerhouse it remains today. Distribution exploded from 19 to over 75 global markets and today M·A·C is known all over the world as the cult makeup authority. As Chairman of the M·A·C AIDS Fund, Mr. Demsey has secured numerous iconic celebrities for the M·A·C VIVA GLAM campaigns including; Elton John, Mary J. Blige, Pamela Anderson, Christina Aguilera, Fergie, Dita von Teese, Cyndi Lauper and Lady Gaga. Through the sales of VIVA GLAM lipsticks and lipglasses, the M·A·C AIDS Fund has raised $190 million. Mr. Demsey is also an active participant in several AIDS-related organizations, including the Fashion Group International Advisory Board; Advisory Council of the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS; Honorary Board of Love Heals; Love Heals, The Alison Gertz Foundation for AIDS Education; Executive Advisory Board of the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation; and AIDS Project Los Angeles.

 

Each year, M·A·C participates in 23 Fashion Weeks around the world: New York, London, Milan, Paris, Sydney, Copenhagen, Athens, Moscow, Berlin, Delhi, Capetown, Johannesburg, Madrid, Mexico City, Miami Swimwear, NY Bridal, Auckland, Toronto, Tokyo, Sao Paulo, Paris Couture, Milan Menswear and Paris Menswear. The total number of shows the brand does annually is approximately 850. Since the beginning, fashion has played a significant role in the brand's philosophy, and M·A·C has supported both existing and emerging design talent resulting not only in backstage makeup artistry support but product collaborations with high profile designers such as Alexander McQueen, Emanuel Ungaro, Heatherette and DSquared2.

From 1991 to 1998, Mr. Demsey held several positions with Estée Lauder in its New York headquarters, as well as in the field. He was Senior Vice President, Sales and Education, Estée Lauder USA and Canada, where he was instrumental in expanding the brand's business and increasing market share. Prior to that, he was Vice President, Sales, for the West Coast region.

Before joining The Estée Lauder Companies he worked as Vice President of Sales at the specialty division of Revlon, which included the Borghese, Alexandra de Markoff and Lancaster brands. He also held various executive positions with Bloomingdale's, Macy's, Benetton and Saks Fifth Avenue.

 

Amy DiGeso is Executive Vice President, Global Human Resources, at The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., one of the world's leading manufacturers and marketers of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products. She reports to William P. Lauder, Executive Chairman and Fabrizio Freda, President and Chief Executive Officer.

 

A world-class human resources executive and general manager, Ms. DiGeso has had a diverse and highly successful career, and is well versed in the strategic concerns of global business. Not only is she expert at managing and developing talent on a worldwide basis, but she is also thoroughly acquainted with the retail sector and is especially skilled at partnering with business leaders. Through a globally deployed network of HR professionals, Ms. DiGeso's department works closely with all business operations of the Company, directing the recruitment, retention, compensation, and development of more than 31,000 employees.

 

Prior to rejoining The Estée Lauder Companies in May 2005, Ms. DiGeso was Managing Partner, Human Capital, responsible for global human resources at PricewaterhouseCoopers, a worldwide professional services firm with over 125,000 employees in 142 countries. She has also served as President of Popular Club, a direct marketing/sales subsidiary of Macy’s, Inc., and held a number of executive management positions at Mary Kay Inc., including that of Chief Executive Officer. Earlier in her career she held positions of increasing responsibility at Bankers Trust Company, the American Express Company and Olivetti Corporation of America. She worked previously at The Estée Lauder Companies as Executive Director of Human Resources.

 

Ms. DiGeso is a Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) Alumni Fellow, the highest recognition bestowed by the university; she was recognized for her leadership. Along with her husband, Paul Rakowski, a retired special agent for the U.S. Secret Service, she has endowed a scholarship fund for women at Penn State to foster leadership development. She also works closely with their College of Health and Human Development on the women’s leadership initiative curriculum, which she helped found and develop.

 

Ms. DiGeso has been profiled frequently in the media and has been recognized by CNBC for her successful management of human capital. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Penn State and an MBA from Fordham University.

 

Ms. DiGeso and her husband live in New York City.

Harvey Gedeon is Executive Vice President, Global Research, Development and Product Innovation for The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., a position he has held since 2004. He joined the Company in January 2000 as Senior Vice President, Global Research and Development.

 

Mr. Gedeon’s career in the cosmetics industry spans more than 30 years. A world leader in the conceptualization and technical achievement of innovative beauty products, he has been involved in more than 100 patents.

 

Prior to joining The Estée Lauder Companies, Mr. Gedeon was President, Research and Development and Quality Assurance for Revlon, a position to which he was promoted in 1997. Mr. Gedeon joined Revlon in 1986 as Senior Vice President, Research and Development, Product Development, and in 1993 was promoted to Executive Vice President and General Manager, Research and Development and Quality Assurance.

 

From 1983 to 1986, Mr. Gedeon was Vice President, Research and Development for Max Factor; from 1980 to 1983 he was Vice President, Research and Development and Quality Assurance at Orlane, based in Paris, France, and from 1968 to 1980 he was Director of Skin Care at the Revlon Research Center.

 

Mr. Gedeon holds a B.S. in Chemistry from City College of New York and an M.B.A. in International Management from New York University. He is a member of the American Management Association and the Society of Cosmetic Chemists.

 

Richard W. Kunes is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., a position he has held since 2000. He is responsible for the classic finance functions, including Internal and External Reporting, Treasury, Taxation, Risk Management, Internal Control, Operations Finance and Investor Relations. In addition, Mr. Kunes is responsible for the Corporate Strategic Planning and Mergers and Acquisitions department as well as the Global Information Systems Group. He is also Chairman of the Fiduciary Investment Committee.

 

From January 1998 through October 2000, Mr. Kunes was Vice President - Financial Administration and Corporate Controller. He was named Vice President — Operations Finance Worldwide in November 1993.

 

During his time with The Estée Lauder Companies, Mr. Kunes has played a major role in enhancing profitability and successfully completing the acquisition and integration of newer brands. As Chief Financial Officer, he has successfully guided the Company to continued sales and profitability growth, while establishing a strong financial and capital structure for the future. He has developed foreign exchange and hedging strategies, opened affiliate companies throughout the world and served as a key resource in overseeing the global financial organization.

 

As Vice President, Financial Administration and Corporate Controller, Mr. Kunes oversaw global financial reporting, S.E.C. reporting, corporate planning activities and financial administration, and worked closely with the Tax and Treasury groups. He also had responsibility for the financial group supporting the Company’s global manufacturing activities.

 

Mr. Kunes joined the Company in 1986 as International Manufacturing Controller, providing senior financial counseling to the International Operations Group. He has served as Regional Financial Officer for Asia/Pacific markets and Vice President, Controller for the Global Operations area.

 

Leonard A. Lauder is Chairman Emeritus of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. and is currently the senior member of its Board of Directors. Founded in 1946, the Company is one of the world's leading manufacturers and marketers of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products, with annual sales of $7.8 billion. Its products are sold in over 150 countries and territories across more than 25 well-recognized brand names.

 

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, Mr. Lauder also studied at Columbia University's Graduate School of Business and served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy. He formally joined Estée Lauder in 1958, when it had annual sales of $800,000. Mr. Lauder consistently developed and implemented innovative sales and marketing programs and increased the Company's sales and profits. He created its first research and development laboratory and brought in professional management on every level. He also initiated The Estée Lauder Companies' international expansion, which began in 1960 with the opening of the Estée Lauder account at Harrods in London.

 

Mr. Lauder served as President of The Estée Lauder Companies from 1972 to 1995 and as Chief Executive Officer from 1982 to 1999. He added the title of Chairman in 1995 and served as Chairman of The Estée Lauder Companies through June 2009. Under his leadership, the Company launched many brands, including Aramis, Clinique, Lab Series Skincare for Men and Origins. Beginning in the mid-1990s, the Company also began expanding through acquisitions, including Aveda, Bobbi Brown, Jo Malone, La Mer and M·A·C.

 

In addition to his activities with The Estée Lauder Companies, Mr. Lauder is extremely involved in the worlds of education, art, politics and philanthropy. He is a charter trustee of the University of Pennsylvania and a founding member of the board of governors of its Joseph H. Lauder Institute of Management and International Studies. Mr. Lauder became a trustee of the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City in 1977 and currently serves as its Chairman Emeritus. He is Co-Founder and Chairman of the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a trustee of The Aspen Institute, Chairman of The Aspen Institute International Committee, and a member of the President’s Council of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital. Mr. Lauder served on the Advisory Committee for Trade Negotiations under President Ronald Reagan. Included among his honors, he was presented with the National Order of Merit by the French Government, named an Officier de la Légion d’Honneur by France and recognized by The United States Navy Supply Corps Foundation with its Distinguished Alumni Award.

 

Ronald. Lauder is the younger son of Estée and Joseph Lauder and, like his older brother, Leonard, learned the family business at the dinner table. He formally joined the company in 1964 after graduating from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, beginning his career in the Belgium factory.   His executive roles began when he became General Manager of Clinique Laboratories in 1985, followed by Chairman in 1995.  Mr. Lauder was instrumental in the creation of Prescriptives and served as Chairman of Estee Lauder International from 1992 to 2002.  He also served as a member of the Board of Directors from 1995 to 2005.  In 1984, he took a leave from the company to serve in the Pentagon as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Defense for European and NATO Affairs.  In 1986 he was named U.S. Ambassador to Austria, where he served until 1987. 

A noted philanthropist and active leader in many civic, cultural and Jewish causes, Mr. Lauder is Chairman of the Jewish National Fund and President of the World Jewish Congress.  Upon his return to the U.S. from Austria in 1987, he established The Ronald S. Lauder Foundation, which is dedicated to rebuilding Jewish communities in Central and Eastern Europe that were devastated by the Holocaust, with an emphasis on Jewish schools, camps and community centers.

Mr. Lauder is a renowned art collector and over the years has put together one of the world’s greatest private collections.  In 2001 he founded The Neue Galerie Museum for German and Austrian Art in Manhattan, which features works from the early 20th century.   He served as Chairman of the Museum of Modern Art, one of the world’s leading art institutions, from 1995 until 2005 and now fills the role of Honorary Chairman of the Museum. Among many other commitments, he is a charter trustee of the University of Pennsylvania, where he co-founded the Joseph H. Lauder Institute of Management and International Studies with his brother Leonard in 1983.

Mr. Lauder is Chairman of Central European Media Enterprises, Ltd., a leading television broadcast company in Central Eastern Europe which he founded in 1994.  He is also the founder and Chairman of RWL Water Group, with focus on water, wastewater and energy recovery.  At the same time, Ronald Lauder continues his many philanthropic and cultural endeavors in New York and throughout the world.

Sara E. Moss is Executive Vice President and General Counsel of The Estée Lauder Companies. She is responsible for the worldwide legal activities of the Company and its subsidiaries, including Board of Directors, corporate governance, acquisitions, U.S. and global filings, government relations, intellectual property, licensing, litigation and global security. She serves on the Company’s Investment Development Committee, Fiduciary Investment Committee, Executive Leadership Committee, Program Management Team, Diversity Committee and is Chair of the Company’s Ethics and Compliance Committee.

 

Before joining The Estée Lauder Companies in 2003, Ms. Moss held the position of Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Pitney Bowes Inc., which she joined in 1996. Prior to joining Pitney Bowes, Ms. Moss was a senior litigation partner at Howard, Smith & Levin (now Covington & Burling), a New York City-based law firm. From 1978 to 1981, she served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Criminal Division in the Southern District of New York, where she prosecuted a wide range of federal cases. Prior to that, she practiced at Davis Polk & Wardwell and was a law clerk for the Honorable Constance Baker Motley, U.S. District Judge in the Southern District of New York. Ms. Moss is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Massachusetts and New York University Law School.

 

Ms. Moss has received the Anti-Defamation League Human Relations Award, the NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund “Aiming High” Award, the Minority Corporate Counsel Diversity Award and the Pro Bono Partnership Outstanding Contribution Award. She serves on the Board of Trustees of NYU Law School, the Board of Directors of the Legal Aid Society and the Board of Directors of the American Arbitration Association. Ms. Moss has served on the Second Circuit Judicial Conference Committee, the Board of Trustees of the Federal Bar Council, and the mediation panel for the Southern District of New York. She has taught trial advocacy at Harvard Law School and the National Institute for Trial Advocacy. Since 2002 she has participated in Fortune Magazine’s Most Powerful Women in Business forum.

 

She has four children and lives in New York City.

Greg Polcer was named Executive Vice President, Global Supply Chain for The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. in July 2008. Mr. Polcer oversees the Company's end-to-end supply chain, including procurement, manufacturing, planning, quality assurance and logistics. He reports to President and Chief Executive Officer Fabrizio Freda and is a member of the Executive Leadership Team.

 

Mr. Polcer is a business executive with more than 30 years of increasing and varying responsibilities in the Americas and globally. Prior to joining The Estée Lauder Companies, he was Senior Vice President of Supply Chain at Unilever. During his tenure there, Mr. Polcer led the development of a corporate-wide initiative for defining the processes, project plan and delivery of a center-led procurement capability. In this role, Mr. Polcer was successful in delivering a sustainable cost and overall long term value benefit. Prior to his time with Unilever, Mr. Polcer worked with Playtex Inc. and J.C. Penney in various business roles.

 

Mr. Polcer is a seasoned business leader who prides himself on his team-based orientation, with an ability to create and develop strong teams. Throughout his career, Mr. Polcer has demonstrated a commitment to leading and improving global supply chain capabilities. With a unique combination of supply chain, finance and category management experience, Mr. Polcer is focused on continuing to increase efficiencies and enhance the Company’s operating effectiveness.

 

Mr. Polcer earned his Master of Business Administration degree from St. John’s University and graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration from Dowling College. He lives in New York with his wife Maureen.

Cedric Prouvé became Group President, International, for The Estée Lauder Companies in January, 2003. Mr. Prouvé is responsible for sales and profits for the Company in all markets outside of North America and for all activities of its sales affiliates and distributor relationships worldwide. He collaborates closely with the Company’s Group and Brand Presidents to integrate all global marketing strategies in the international markets. He also oversees the Company's Travel Retail business.

 

Previously, Mr. Prouvé was President and General Manager of The Estée Lauder Companies’ Japanese affiliate from August 2000 to December 2002. In this role he better positioned the Company to meet the challenges of the rapidly changing Japanese cosmetics market.

 

From April 1997 to August 2000, Mr. Prouvé was Vice President, General Manager, Travel Retailing Worldwide. In this position he effectively met the challenges of the abolition of duty-free trading within the European Economic Community and the 1998 currency shocks in Asia/Pacific, while proactively managing the opportunities arising from the introduction of new brands and specialized marketing programs for the Travel Retail channel. He joined The Estée Lauder Companies in 1994 as General Manager, Travel Retailing, Asia/Pacific Region, and was given the added responsibility of General Manager of the Company's Singapore affiliate in 1995.

 

Prior to joining The Estée Lauder Companies, Mr. Prouvé spent nine years with the L’Oréal Group in sales and management positions of increasing responsibility in the Americas and Pacific Rim.

 

Alexandra C. Trower became Executive Vice President, Global Communications in April, 2008. She reports to William P. Lauder, Executive Chairman, The Estée Lauder Companies.

 

Ms. Trower directs the Company’s overall communications strategy as it relates to consumers, employees and stockholders. She oversees the four specialties of Global Communications—Brand Communications, Corporate Communications, Internal Communications and Consumer Communications—and works closely with Investor Relations. In addition, she counsels senior corporate executives, brand presidents and others throughout the global organization on communications issues and events.

 

Ms. Trower has more than 20 years experience in global communications, with a broad background in financial, corporate and consumer relations. Before joining The Estée Lauder Companies, Ms. Trower was Senior Vice President, Media Relations for Bank of America. Leading a 30-person team, Ms. Trower worked to enhance the company’s brand, image and reputation in the U.S. and abroad through integrated media, communications and marketing efforts. In addition, she served as a senior communications advisor to top management on business strategy, acquisitions, product introductions, customer issues, litigation and government relations.

 

From 1997 to 2003, Ms. Trower was a Managing Director at JPMorgan Chase, where she was responsible for Corporate Communications at JPMorgan Fleming Asset Management. Prior to that, she spent 10 years at Chancellor LGT Asset Management, now part of Invesco, where she was Vice President of Corporate Communications.

 

Ms. Trower graduated from Hollins University in Roanoke, Va. She is a member of its Alumnae Board of Directors.