Nicola Formichet, who previously served as Diesel's artistic director and has collaborated often with Lady Gaga, has been named the global creative director of The Estée Lauder Companies' M·A·C Cosmetics.
Formichetti, who has also served as a fashion director for Uniqlo and Vogue Hommes Japan, will assume his new role on May 19, 2025.
He will report directly to Aïda Moudachirou-Rébois, M·A·C’s senior vice president and global general manager.
“M·A·C is an iconic brand that has always championed the people and communities that move culture forward,” said Formichetti. “Having previously collaborated with the brand on my Nicopanda collection and the M·A·C VIVA GLAM campaign, I’m thrilled to return and bring my vision to this next chapter. The world is craving creativity, beauty, and connection—and I can’t wait to help bring that to life in a magical way.”
The appointment comes amid a challenging moment for color cosmetics.
The Estée Lauder Companies' Q3 fiscal 2025 results showed that makeup net sales decreased 7%, with M·A·C's unfavorable launch timing being a critical drag on results.
Moving forward, Formichetti will tap into M·A·C's core focus on artistry. He will "shape the strategy, conceptualization and execution of M·A·C’s creative vision, elevating the brand’s global image and impact across every touchpoint–from campaigns and social media platforms to product, packaging, and immersive retail experiences," per an official announcement.
“Nicola is a once-in-a-generation creative talent who perfectly embodies the bold, fearless energy of M·A·C and our global community,” said Moudachirou-Rébois. “Like our consumers, Nicola is passionate, expressive and knows how to push boundaries. His appointment is not only a celebration of artistry, but a reflection of our commitment to serving our consumers with of-the-moment relevance, creativity and authenticity. He is the perfect Creative Director to drive the brand into its next exciting chapter.”
“Nicola’s appointment is a bold step forward for M·A·C and for The Estée Lauder Companies,” said Jane Hertzmark Hudis, executive vice president, chief brand officer, The Estée Lauder Companies. “Nicola brings the vision, bold creativity and track record to take the M·A·C brand to new heights as it enters its next phase of growth. We are thrilled to bring this level of high-caliber creative talent to The Estée Lauder Companies.”
“This appointment represents yet another definitive step forward for The Estée Lauder Companies as we execute our recently announced Beauty Reimagined vision, which is focused on becoming the most consumer-centric prestige beauty company in the world,” said Stéphane de La Faverie, president and CEO, The Estée Lauder Companies. “A key component of Beauty Reimagined is meeting consumers where they are, and with Nicola’s unique ability to capture the pulse of culture, he will help shape exciting and innovative products and experiences. M·A·C’s tremendous brand equity is most powerful when it evolves with the times—and Nicola will leverage his creative vision to inspire a new generation of connection, self-expression, and loyalty.”
