Estée Lauder Companies Inc., founded in 1946 by Estée and Joseph Lauder, is a global leader in the beauty and personal care industry. Headquartered in New York City, the company began with a single face cream and lip gloss, sold directly to salons and hotels. Over the decades, it has grown through innovation in product development and strategic brand acquisitions, establishing a reputation for high-quality, prestige cosmetics.
The company’s core business activities encompass the research, development, manufacturing, and marketing of skincare, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products. Its brand portfolio includes Estée Lauder, Clinique, La Mer, Origins, Bobbi Brown, MAC, Jo Malone London, Tom Ford Beauty, Aveda, and several others, each targeting distinct consumer segments from mass-market to luxury. Estée Lauder Companies maintains a strong emphasis on scientific research and sustainable sourcing to support ongoing product innovation and consumer trust.
With a presence in more than 150 countries and territories, Estée Lauder Companies operates through a combination of owned retail counters, e-commerce platforms, freestanding stores and travel-retail channels. The company organizes its operations across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific, and Greater China, tailoring its marketing and distribution strategies to local market preferences. This global reach has enabled it to navigate shifting consumer trends and economic cycles.
Estée Lauder Companies is led by President and Chief Executive Officer Fabrizio Freda, who has helmed the organization since 2009, and Executive Chairman William P. Lauder, a second-generation member of the Lauder family. Under their stewardship, the company continues to invest in digital initiatives, sustainability programs and emerging markets to drive long-term growth and reinforce its position as an innovator in the beauty industry.
