Clinique’s brilliant leader, Leonard A. Lauder, Chairman Emeritus and ‘Chief Teaching Officer’ of The Estée Lauder Companies, passed away on June 14, at the age of 92. A visionary whose wisdom, kindness, and generosity shaped the beauty industry and touched countless lives, Lauder’s legacy will forever guide and inspire the industry.
Leonard A. Lauder, Chairman Emeritus and ‘Chief Teaching Officer’ of The Estée Lauder Companies, passed away at the age of 92. Image: Clinique LinkedIn
“Mr. Lauder didn’t just believe in our brand—he imagined it into being. Clinique was born from his unique gift for bringing together remarkable teams and creating the future. As he wrote in his memoir: ‘Clinique wasn’t just a new line of skincare or makeup: it was an entirely new way of thinking about beauty.’ That innovative way of thinking continues to define who we are today. We honor his legacy with deep gratitude, pride, and an enduring commitment to the values he instilled in us,” per Clinique’s LinkedIn post.
The Legacy of Leonard A. Lauder
Leonard A. Lauder was born in 1933 in New York City, the oldest son of Estée and Joseph H. Lauder, the founders of The Estée Lauder Companies. He was a graduate of Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business and served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy and as a Navy reservist, for which the U.S. Navy Supply Corps Foundation later recognized him with its Distinguished Alumni Award. He formally joined Estée Lauder in 1958, and for more than six decades, was a visionary and an innovator, helping transform the business from a few products to the multi-brand, global leader in prestige beauty that it is today.
“Throughout his life, my father worked tirelessly to build and transform the beauty industry, pioneering many of the innovations, trends, and best practices that are foundational to the industry today,” said William P. Lauder, son and Chair, Board of Directors, The Estée Lauder Companies. “He was the most charitable man I have ever known, believing that art and education belonged to everyone, and championing the fight against diseases such as Alzheimer’s and breast cancer… His warmth and thoughtfulness made an imprint on our company, the industry, and, of course, our family.”
Lauder served as President of The Estée Lauder Companies from 1972 to 1995 and as CEO from 1982 through 1999. He was named Chairman in 1995 and served in that role through June 2009. Throughout his tenure at the company, he challenged the status quo, developing and implementing innovative sales and marketing programs that revolutionised the beauty industry. He created the company’s first research and development laboratory, brought in professional management at every level, and was the driving force behind The Estée Lauder Companies’ international expansion, helping to increase the company’s sales and profits exponentially.
RELATED CONTENT
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Appoints Brian Franz As Chief Technology, Data And Analytics Officer
Top 5 Bestsellers At Estée Lauder
A legendary brand builder, Lauder led the launch of many brands including Aramis, Clinique, and Lab Series,. Until his death, he remained deeply involved in the company’s acquisition strategy, including the acquisitions of Aveda, Bobbi Brown, Jo Malone London, La Mer, and M∙A∙C. Speaking for The Estée Lauder Companies, President and CEO Stéphane de La Faverie said, “To our employees at The Estée Lauder Companies, he was an inspiration and a champion. To the industry, he was an icon and pioneer, earning respect worldwide. His energy and vision helped shape our company and will continue to do so for generations to come… I feel privileged to have worked with Leonard, who has been the best mentor I could have dreamt to learn from.”
During his many years as Chairman Emeritus, Lauder was closely involved in the day-to-day operations of the company and was a fixture at The Estée Lauder Companies’ global headquarters in New York until the time of his death. He believed strongly in the importance of recognition and gratitude and was a tireless advocate for employees. At the onset of the global pandemic in 2020, Mr. Lauder was instrumental in setting up the ELC Cares Employee Relief Fund to support the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of employees and their families. He was also deeply involved in medical research, education, art, foreign policy, and philanthropy.
Lauder was a long-time advocate of cancer research and served as Honorary Chairman of the board of directors at the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the organization his beloved late-wife, Evelyn H. Lauder, founded in 1993. He also championed the fight against Alzheimer’s by co-founding and leading the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation with his brother, Ronald S. Lauder, which supports cutting-edge drug research.
Remembering his brother, Ronald S. Lauder, Chairman, Clinique Laboratories, LLC at The Estée Lauder Companies, said, “Leonard was a wonderful brother and a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, colleague, and friend… His impact will be felt for generations to come thanks to his tireless philanthropy, advocacy, and creativity in tackling some of the world’s greatest challenges. The number of lives he touched and positively impacted across all his endeavors is immeasurable.”
“My father was a remarkable man, a leader in business, a devoted philanthropist, and a deeply loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather,” said Gary M.r Lauder, son and Member, Board of Directors, The Estée Lauder Companies. “He was not only well-respected and admired, but he was also adored by his employees and colleagues. This affection stands out for me. While we mourn his passing, we also celebrate his extraordinary life, his lasting contributions, and the values he instilled in all of us: integrity, curiosity, and the importance of giving back.”
Lauder worked throughout his life to promote dialogue among governments, political and non-governmental organizations, and the public and private sectors, believing that this interdisciplinary dialogue is crucial to progress. He served as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and as Chairman Emeritus and a lifetime trustee on the board of directors at the Aspen Institute. He felt that public service was a person’s duty and, in addition to his time in the U.S. Navy, later served on the Advisory Committee for Trade Negotiations under President Ronald Reagan from 1983–1987.
Throughout his lifetime, he was honored with a myriad of awards, including the “Lone Sailor” Award given by the U.S. Navy Supply Corps Foundation, the Légion d’Honneur given by the government of France, the Women’s Leadership Award given by the Lincoln Center Corporate Fund Women’s Leadership Council, and the Palazzo Strozzi Renaissance Man of the Year Award. In 2020, he was inducted into the Retail Hall of Fame by the World Retail Congress.
The Lauder family received the esteemed 2011 Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy in recognition of its long-standing commitment to philanthropy and public service. In 2014, Mr. Lauder was named a Living Landmark by the New York Landmarks Conservancy. Mr. Lauder and Ms. Glickman Lauder also received the Gordon Parks Foundation Patron of the Arts Award in 2016.
Lauder is survived by his wife, Judy Glickman Lauder; his son William P. Lauder; his son Gary M. Lauder and wife, Laura Lauder; five grandchildren, Rachel, Danielle, Djuna-Bear, Joshua, Eliana, two great-grandchildren, many stepchildren and step grandchildren, as well as his brother, Ronald S. Lauder, and wife, Jo Carole Lauder, and their daughters, Aerin Lauder and Jane Lauder. A private service will be held for friends and family. For those who wish, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation.
About The Estée Lauder Companies
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is one of the world’s leading manufacturers, marketers, and sellers of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products. The company’s products are sold in approximately 150 countries and territories under brand names including: Estée Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Lab Series, Origins, M·A·C, La Mer, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, Aveda, Jo Malone London, Bumble and bumble, Darphin Paris, Tom Ford, Smashbox, Aerin Beauty, Le Labo, Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, GlamGlow, Kilian Paris, Too Faced, Dr.Jart+, The Ordinary, Niod, and Balmain Beauty.
Jasmeen Dugal is Associate Editor at FashionABC, contributing her insights on fashion, technology, and sustainability. She brings with herself more than two decades of editorial experience, working for national newspapers and luxury magazines in India.
Jasmeen Dugal has worked with exchange4media as a senior writer contributing articles on the country’s advertising and marketing movements, and then with Condenast India as Net Editor where she helmed Vogue India’s official website in terms of design, layout and daily content. Besides this, she is also an entrepreneur running her own luxury portal, Explosivefashion, which highlights the latest in luxury fashion and hospitality.
