Group President
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
John Demsey has been Group President, The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., since July 2006. In this role, he oversees the Estée Lauder, M·A·C, Tom Ford Beauty and Prescriptives brands as well the company’s Specialty Group of brands, Bobbi Brown, Jo Malone and La Mer, which were added to his portfolio in July 2009.
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.
Mr. Demsey’s recent accomplishments include re-energizing the Estée Lauder brand with the Tom Ford Estée Lauder Collections Youth Dew Amber Nude and Azurée; working closely with Aerin Lauder to re-image the brand by signing spokesmodels Gwyneth Paltrow and Hilary Rhoda; linking heritage with modernity by launching Private Collection fragrances with Ms. Lauder as the global ambassador; re-invigorating the brand’s fragrances with Sensuous and its beauty at any age concept; and reinforcing the brand’s skincare authority with a renewed focus on serums and moisturizers. Mr. Demsey also 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 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.
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.
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 65 global markets and today M·A·C is over a billion dollar company. Mr. Demsey has secured numerous iconic celebrities for the M·A·C VIVA GLAM and Icon campaigns including Raquel Welch, Liza Minnelli, Catherine Deneuve, Diana Ross, Elton John, Mary J. Blige, Pamela Anderson, Christina Aguilera, Fergie and Dita von Teese.
M·A·C Cosmetics sponsors fashion weeks throughout the world, including New York, London, Athens, Dehli, Australian and Tokyo Fashion Weeks. 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. Today the brand supports over 175 international designers each season resulting not only in backstage makeup artistry support, but product collaborations with high profile designers such as Alexander McQueen, Emanuel Ungaro and Heatherette.
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.
Mr. Demsey serves as Chairman of the M·A·C AIDS Fund, which has raised over 140 million dollars through sales of the VIVA GLAM lipstick line and other initiatives. He 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.
Mr. Demsey earned his Master of Business Administration degree from New York University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Stanford University.
