Today, The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. announced the appointment of Barbara De Laere to Senior Vice President/General Manager, Aveda – North America, effective December 1, 2016. She will report directly to Thia Breen, Group President, North America, with a matrix reporting line to Dominique Conseil, Global Brand President, Aveda.
Based at Aveda’s global headquarters in Blaine, Minnesota, Ms. De Laere will be responsible for optimizing Aveda’s growth potential in North America. She will lead a talented team of executives to develop and execute Aveda’s North America go-to-market strategy – overseeing Applied Marketing, Retail, and Field Sales and Education. Her role will include strengthening Aveda’s winning strategy across its retail channels, including its salons and spas, Experience Centers, online and omnichannel. She will also lead the brand’s digital marketing and social media strategies in North America, and further drive consumer engagement across all touchpoints, including in stores and salons.
Ms. De Laere joins the Company from L’Oréal, where she spent the past 16 years in various international senior leadership and general management roles within its Professional Products Division. Her global experience has included positions in the Netherlands, France, Germany, and New York, as well as broader oversight of Western Europe and Asia Pacific. During her tenure, she was responsible for managing the brand identities, go-to-market strategies and revenue growth of several well-known hair care brands. Most recently, she served as General Manager and Executive Vice President, Asia Pacific – Professional Products Division, based in Shanghai, China, where she helped lead the integration of newly acquired skin care brands, among other responsibilities.
Ms. Breen stated, “Barbara is a strong analytical and strategic thinker with proven ability to lead luxury beauty brands and drive growth. Her deep expertise in skin care, hair care and the luxury salon channel position her well to take on this important role for the Company and our North America business.” Mr. Conseil added, “Barbara’s unique experience strengthening brand identities and building brand advocacy with consumers and the luxury salon and spa community, will be a significant asset to our team and our future growth in North America.”
About: The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products. The Company’s products are sold in over 150 countries and territories under brand names including: Estée Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Prescriptives, Lab Series, Origins, Tommy Hilfiger, M•A•C, Kiton, La Mer, Bobbi Brown, Donna Karan New York, DKNY, Aveda, Jo Malone London, Bumble and bumble, Michael Kors, Darphin, Tom Ford, Smashbox, Ermenegildo Zegna, AERIN, Tory Burch, RODIN olio lusso, Le Labo, Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, GLAMGLOW, By Kilian and BECCA.
About: Founded in 1978 in Minneapolis, MN, Aveda creates plant-based hair, skin and body products for beauty professionals and consumers. Aveda innovates in botanical technologies, combining the principles of modern science and Ayurveda, the ancient healing art of India, to develop performance-driven hair, skin and body products—made with pure flower and plant essences—that are created with respect for the Earth, and a comprehensive menu of ritual-based treatments for holistic beauty.
Throughout the years, Aveda has pioneered new benchmarks of environmental responsibility in beauty. It was the first company to sign the Ceres Principles in 1989 - a nonprofit organization mobilizing business leadership on climate change, water scarcity and other sustainability challenges - and the first beauty company to manufacture with 100 percent wind power in its primary facility . Aveda was also the first beauty company to receive a Cradle To Cradle charter for its commitment to sustainable products, packaging and production. In 2013, Aveda was honored with the first Legacy Leaders Award from Cradle to Cradle for its pioneering role in environmental leadership. Currently 11 products are Cradle To Cradle Certified™. Since 1999, Aveda’s annual Earth Month campaign, held each April, has raised more than $44 million to support environmental projects around the world. Aveda is trusted by salon and spa professionals worldwide. Since 2007, more than half of the fastest growing salons in the U.S. have been part of the Aveda network. Aveda products are available in Aveda Experience Centers and more than 9,000 professional hair salons and spas in more than 30 countries and at www.aveda.com. Go behind-the-scenes at Aveda on the Living Aveda blog and follow Aveda on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.