William P. Lauder

William P. Lauder (born April 11, 1960) is an American businessman. He serves as Executive Chairman of The Estée Lauder Companies. The Estée Lauder Companies is one of the world's leading manufacturers and marketers of skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products.

Lauder is the son of Evelyn Lauder (née Hausner) and Leonard A. Lauder; and is a grandson of Estée and Joseph Lauder, the founders of the Estée Lauder Companies. His father was of Hungarian Jewish and Czechoslovakian Jewish descent and his mother was Austrian Jewish. William Lauder graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1983 with a B.S. in economics.

William Lauder had succeeded Fred H. Langhammer as chief executive officer on July 1, 2004, a position he held until July 2009, when he was succeeded by Fabrizio Freda. Lauder had previously been chief operating officer of The Estée Lauder Companies, a position he held since January 1, 2003. Lauder was responsible for the oversight of all of the Company's global operations, including Manufacturing, Research & Development and Human Resources, as well as Retail Store Operations and all activities for The Estée Lauder Companies' International business. In addition, he oversaw nine of the Company's specialty brands, including Prescriptives, Aveda and Bobbi Brown.

Previously, Lauder was Group President, The Estée Lauder Companies and President, Clinique Worldwide. In this role, he led the worldwide businesses of Clinique and Origins and the rapidly growing Retail Division of the Company, which encompasses the management of freestanding stores for all brands, including Aveda, Origins and M•A•C. Additionally, he directed the Company's online activities on a worldwide basis, including the Gloss.com joint venture with Chanel and Clarins.

From June 1998 to July 2001, Lauder was President, Clinique Laboratories. Under his leadership, Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion became the best-selling prestige skin care product in U.S. department stores, and Clinique launched its first anti-aging product, Stop Signs Visible Anti-Aging Serum, which won the Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) Award for "Best Skin Care Product in Limited Distribution" in 2000. Lauder was instrumental in increasing the brand's market share in the hair care category, spearheading the launch of the Clinique Simple Hair Care System. He also supervised the Clinique Website as a marketing and brand-enhancing vehicle that served to both deepen existing consumer relationships and engage new consumers.

From 1990 to 1998, Lauder served first as Vice President/General Manager and later as President of Origins Natural Resources Inc., where he led the introduction and development of this lifestyle brand. Under his leadership, Origins created the innovative store-within-a-store concept and had the highest growth rate of prestige cosmetic companies in the U.S.

Lauder joined The Estée Lauder Companies in 1986 as Regional Marketing Director of Clinique U.S.A. in the New York Metro area. Lauder then spent two years at Prescriptives as Field Sales Manager. Prior to joining The Estée Lauder Companies, he completed Macy's executive training program in New York City and became Associate Merchandising Manager of the New York Division/Dallas store at the time of its opening in September 1985.

Lauder is on the Boards of Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania and the Trinity School in New York City. He is a member of the Board of Directors of The Fresh Air Fund and the 92nd Street Y.

While CEO of Estée Lauder in 2009, William P. Lauder earned a total compensation of $8,037,296, which included a base salary of $1,500,000, a cash bonus of $975,000, stocks granted of $2,769,032, and options granted of $2,703,000.