Estée Lauder names new chief technology, data and analytics officer

The Estée Lauder Companies announced on Tuesday the appointment of Brian Franz to the role of chief technology, data and analytics officer, effective April 21.

Franz will report to president and chief executive officer Stéphane de La Faverie and will join the cosmetic giant’s executive team.

As the New York-based company’s first-ever combined chief data technology, data and analytics officer, Franz will be charged with overseeing the firm’s global data and technology capabilities that drive technology innovation, improve business agility, and deliver personalized consumer experiences.

Franz will lead the company’s global information technology (IT) organization, and will also oversee the digital technology and experience and enterprise data teams. As he leads this new chapter for company’s technology teams, the executive will leverage capabilities from key external technology partners to support additional modernization and innovation for the company, the company added.

A seasoned executive with experience in technology, operations, and business transformation, Franz joins The Estée Lauder Companies from State Street, where he most recently served as executive vice president, global chief information officer and head of enterprise resiliency.

Prior to State Street, he held senior leadership roles at Diageo PLC, including chief productivity officer and CIO, and served as CIO at PepsiCo International. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles at GE, including GE Capital and AT&T. 

“As we drive our bold Beauty Reimagined vision, Brian’s deep expertise and fresh perspectives will be pivotal in executing the biggest technology and operational transformation in our company’s history,” said de La Faverie.

“Brian’s experience in modernizing infrastructure, building resilient and sustainable platforms, and advancing AI-driven capabilities will be critical as we accelerate our evolution into a more agile and consumer-focused organization. Brian’s strategic leadership, combined with his passion for innovation and talent development, makes him the ideal leader to shape the future of technology, data and analytics at The Estée Lauder Companies.”

The appointment comes just two months after Estée Lauder posted a better-than-expected sales update for the recently ended second quarter. In February, the company said quarterly sales fell 6% to $4 billion, compared with analysts’ estimates of 7.3% drop to $3.97 billion, as per data compiled by LSEG.

At the time of reporting, the company said it has also expanded its previously announced restructuring plan that would include up to 7,000 job cuts across its global operations, to help it return to sales growth and restore a solid double-digit adjusted operating margin over the next few years.