The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. has appointed Aude Gandon to the newly created position of chief digital and marketing officer, effective August 1, 2025. The executive is charged with elevating "the consumer journey at every touchpoint to drive and amplify brand equity through creativity, precision and performance," per an official announcement. The move comes amid ongoing growth challenges at the beauty giant.
In its fiscal 2025 third-quarter results, the company reported a 10% decline in net sales, totaling $3.6 billion, signaling a 9% drop in organic sales.
Despite the downturn in sales, the Estée Lauder Companies managed to expand its gross margin by 310 basis points to 75.0%.
Gandon will spearhead the transformation of the company’s digital, marketing and media ecosystem, driving strategies that span its brand portfolio. Additionally, she will oversee global digital commerce, ensuring a cohesive and impactful approach across all touchpoints.
Gandon will report directly to Stéphane de La Faverie, president and CEO, and will join the company's executive team.
She will lead the company’s precision marketing, creative operations, consumer and category insights, regional store design and visual merchandising, omnichannel media strategy, and global consumer care.
Gandon will also oversee global digital commerce and work with regional leadership to accelerate online growth.
The executive joins The Estée Lauder Companies from Nestlé, where she served as global chief marketing officer.
She's also held roles with Google, Publicis Worldwide, McCann and Leo Burnett.
“Aude is an exceptional and accomplished global marketing leader with extensive experience transforming major consumer-facing businesses in the digital age,” de La Faverie. “Her deep expertise across all facets of marketing—from brand strategy and creative development to digital transformation and data analytics—will be instrumental as we continue to build stronger consumer connections. Her global perspective and proven track record of leading large-scale marketing, digital and media transformations make her the ideal leader for this critical role as we shape the future of prestige beauty."
“I am thrilled to join The Estée Lauder Companies, a company with an unparalleled portfolio of powerful brands and a strong heritage of innovation," said Gandon. "As consumer behaviors continue to evolve, the opportunity to lead the digital and marketing transformation for a premier prestige beauty company is incredibly exciting. I look forward to partnering with the talented teams there to enhance our digital capabilities, deepen consumer connections, and drive growth across brands and channels.”
