Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) has appointed Brian Franz as Chief Technology, Data and Analytics Officer amid transformation plans to get sales back on track.
Reporting to the beauty giant’s President and CEO Stéphane de La Faverie, Franz joins ELC from asset management firm State Street, where he was most recently Executive VP, Global Chief Information Officer and Head of Enterprise Resiliency.
The role is the first at the company that combines the three “critical” functions under one leader.
According to de La Faverie, it simplifies the company's structure, removes operational silos and creates “stronger alignment across our data and technology strategies”.
Franz, who will be on the ELC executive team, has previously held senior leadership roles at drinks giants Diageo and Pepsico, including CIO, as well as GE, GE Capital and AT&T.
“As we drive our bold Beauty Reimagined vision, Brian’s deep expertise and fresh perspectives will be pivotal in executing the biggest technology and operational transformation in our company’s history,” said de La Faverie.
“Brian’s experience in modernising infrastructure, building resilient and sustainable platforms, and advancing AI-driven capabilities will be critical as we accelerate our evolution into a more agile and consumer-focused organisation.
“Brian’s strategic leadership, combined with his passion for innovation and talent development, makes him the ideal leader to shape the future of technology, data and analytics at The Estée Lauder Companies.”
De La Faverie, who succeeded longstanding President and CEO Fabrizio Freda who retired last year, unveiled his Beauty Reimagined strategic vision in February in a bid to return the company to profitability amid flagging sales.
Net sales slumped by 6% to US$4bn during the three months ended 31 December 2024, while gross profit also sank by 2% to $3bn, according to its most recent financial results.
ELC plans to cut between 5,800 to 7,000 jobs by the end of fiscal 2026 as part of a restructuring to streamline business operations and improve income by up to $1bn.
De La Faverie called Beauty Reimagined at the time “a bold strategic vision to restore sustainable sales growth and achieve a solid double-digit adjusted operating margin over the next few years”, adding that its aim is “to become the best consumer-centric prestige beauty company”.
This will involve expanding its portfolio in favour of demand-led products and categories and increasing its visible advertising spending, as well as optimising marketing programmes and eliminating low-return marketing activities.
The company, which owns Clinique, MAC Cosmetics and The Ordinary, recently partnered with Adobe to use generative AI on marketing campaigns.
Franz’s appointment is the latest shake up of personnel at ELC.
Ronald S Lauder, the son of founder Estée Lauder, announced his departure from the board of directors at the start of the year, though will remain with the company as Chairman of Clinique Laboratories.
Jane Lauder, his daughter, announced in October last year that she would be stepping down from her role as Chief Data Officer and Executive VP Enterprise Marketing at the US beauty company, but would remain on the board.
Leonard Lauder, Ronald’s brother, ceded his directorship at the end of 2023 but remains Chairman Emeritus.
Long-serving ELC board member Richard Parsons also departed at the end of last year.
At the same time as announcing his Beauty Reimagined strategy, de La Faverie unveiled a new executive team and structure focused on four geographic area.
He is seeking to fill the roles of CMO and head of its make-up brands, which includes MAC, Bobbi Brown, Too Faced, Smashbox and Glamglow.