What's Happening?
The Estée Lauder Companies has announced the appointment of René Lammers, Ph.D., as the new Executive Vice President and Chief Research & Innovation Officer, effective October 1, 2025. Lammers will report directly to Stéphane de La Faverie, President and CEO, and will join the company's Executive Team. In his new role, Lammers will lead the company's global Research & Innovation capabilities, focusing on product and clinical innovation, scientific affairs, regulatory strategy, and upstream technologies. His responsibilities will include overseeing the company's Research and Innovation Centers worldwide and delivering fast-to-market, on-trend innovations across various subcategories. Lammers brings nearly 30 years of experience, having previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Science Officer at PepsiCo.
Why It's Important?
This appointment is significant as it underscores Estée Lauder's commitment to enhancing its research and innovation capabilities to align with consumer-centric strategies. By bringing in a leader with extensive scientific expertise and a consumer-first mindset, the company aims to accelerate its innovation pipeline and maintain its competitive edge in the beauty industry. Lammers' experience in scaling global innovations is expected to unlock new growth opportunities across categories and channels, reinforcing Estée Lauder's legacy of scientific excellence and consumer trust. This move is part of the company's broader strategic vision, 'Beauty Reimagined,' which focuses on creating transformative innovations and delivering breakthrough products more swiftly.
What's Next?
Under Lammers' leadership, Estée Lauder is expected to advance collaborations with global scientific and academic institutions and drive external innovation with strategic partners, particularly in biotechnology and longevity science. These efforts are anticipated to result in the development of new products and innovations that cater to evolving consumer demands. The company's focus on fast-to-market innovations suggests a potential increase in product launches and enhancements, which could impact market dynamics and consumer preferences in the beauty industry.
