Editors' Top Reads: News from Estée Lauder, Jacquemus, Then I Met You and more...

Here are some of this week’s news and features highlights handpicked by TheIndustry.beauty team.

Estée Lauder confirms Stéphane de La Faverie as new CEO

The Estée Lauder Companies confirmed the appointment of Stéphane de La Faverie as its new CEO this week, replacing Fabrizio Freda, who will retire at the end of FY25 after more than 16 years at the business.

"Stéphane’s deep-rooted industry and operational expertise, and his collaborative and dynamic approach, make him the ideal CEO to move us forward with speed, and urgency," emphasised Executive Chairman, William P. Lauder.

It seems this will be important after Estée Lauder also reported a 4% decrease in first quarter sales this week. The company revealed single-digit declines across all beauty categories, with its performance primarily reflecting further softness in overall prestige beauty in mainland China.

Sophie Smith, News Editor & Senior Writer.

TheIndustry.beauty Awards Winners' Interview: Kirsten Thies, VP Marketing, REN Clean Skincare

As part of our interview series that further celebrates the winners of TheIndustry.beauty Awards, I had the pleasure of interviewing Kirsten Thies, Vice President Marketing at REN Clean Skincare.

Thies explained in depth how British brand REN is able to ensure that the ingredients used in its products are sourced ethically and sustainably; how it defines and upholds its clean beauty standards in product formulation, whilst ensuring that its products are both effective and safe; and the strategies it employs to engage with its loyal customer base (among other things!). Read the full interview here.

Katie Ross, Content, Marketing & Events Executive.

The Interview: Then I Met You Founder Charlotte Cho on making K-beauty mainstream and her thoughtful approach to expansion

Korean beauty continues to capture the interest of beauty enthusiasts worldwide, championing skincare products that boast innovative formulations, unique packaging, and a focus on radiant, glowing skin.

One brand performing particularly well in this category is Then I Met You, which has cultivated a loyal following for its innovative Korean ingredients and potent actives that promise to deliver a sensorial skincare experience.

In this interview, Founder Charlotte Cho speaks about the brand's success, her thoughtful approach to expansion, the importance of establishing a strong community, and more.

Sophie Smith, News Editor & Senior Writer.

Jacquemus seeks minority investor to fund expansion into beauty

I have been a long-time fan of Jacquemus, ever since I couldn't pronounce the name. Over the years, I've watched it rise in popularity, gaining momentum after the Le Chiquito bag was at the top of everyone's wish lists. Founder Simon Porte Jacquemus is yet to do wrong in my eyes. His effortlessly chic aesthetic and vision permeate the brand's output from runway staging to Instagram posting, adding something fresh to fashion. Meanwhile, the prices have remained somewhat attainable.

This year, it seemed as though the brand was cropping up everywhere. During my travels, I stumbled across the Jacqeumus Café in the South of France and later accidentally got swept up in a bustling crowd in Soho, New York as fans clamoured to get into the brand's first US boutique. A week later, when I arrived on UK soil, it was no surprise to hear that it was set to open its first store in London this November.

Despite its growth, the luxury fashion brand remains independent. But this week, its founder finally caved, announcing: "I value my independence; I want to pass the business on to my children, but I need to break the glass ceiling by finding the right partner who will remain a minority shareholder".

Jacquemus is seeking a minority investor to help it grow in the US, Europe and Asia, as well as fund its foray into beauty. This desire for expansion comes as luxury faces a slump, which is expected to negatively impact the French brand's revenues in the upcoming year. Yet, it's no secret that beauty lines are big boosters for luxury brands, plus the label's fandom is ready to snap up almost anything Simon Porte Jacquemus puts his creative vision behind.

Chloé Burney, Senior News & Features Writer.