Estée Lauder appoints Chief People Officer as HR boss retires
The Estée Lauder Companies has appointed Michael Bowes as its new Chief People Officer, marking the first executive to hold the title.
Effective from 1 April, Bowes will oversee all areas of global human resources, including talent management, career development and organisational design. He will report to President and CEO, Stéphane de La Faverie.
"Michael is a dynamic leader with a deep passion for people and culture. His strategic vision, commitment to talent development, and ability to foster collaboration across our global organisation make him the ideal leader to shape the future of our workforce," said de La Faverie.
"Michael’s promotion reflects his exceptional track record and his unwavering commitment to making ELC a place where all employees can thrive, innovate, and grow."
Bowes first joined Estée Lauder in May 2015 and has since led global talent acquisition and end-to-end talent management for the US-based organisation.
During this time, he has successfully implemented a new internal talent marketplace, employee listening surveys, and leadership development programs, helping to develop an "agile, collaborative, and connected" workplace.
Prior to Estée Lauder, he was Managing Director of Executive Search at Karen Harvey Consulting. He also held senior talent management and HR roles at retail organisations such as Coach, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger.
Bowes succeeds Michael O’Hare, Chief Human Resources Officer, who announced his intention to retire last week.
"For thirteen years, Michael has been an inspiring and transformative leader, shaping our human resources function to align with our business strategy and greatly enhancing the culture and employee experience at ELC," added de La Faverie.
"His strategic vision, deep expertise, and steadfast commitment to fostering our incredible global talent have left an indelible mark on the company and its people."