Estée Lauder names Meridith Webster head of global communications

By

Jennifer Braun

Published
May 13, 2021

Estée Lauder Companies announced on Tuesday the appointment of Meridith Webster who will join the company in the newly-created role of executive vice president, global communications and public affairs.

Effective May 17, 2021, Webster will report jointly to William P. Lauder, executive chairman, and Fabrizio Freda, president and CEO, and will also join the company’s executive leadership team.

She will succeed Alexandra Trower as head of global communications and Maria Cristina González Noguera as head of global public affairs, as Trower will retire in June. Likewise, González Noguera was recently tapped for the role of EVP and chief communications and public affairs officer at Popular Inc.

In this new role, Webster will oversee Estée Lauder’s global communications and public affairs teams, while leading the strategy and delivery of holistic, integrated global communications. She will also lead the global public affairs and stakeholder engagement strategy to further advance the company’s business goals, build reputation capital and proactively mitigate issues.

“Our world-class global communications and public affairs teams have consistently advanced ahead of the curve against the backdrop of an increasingly complex and rapidly-changing global landscape,” said Freda. “Meridith’s appointment will continue to enable and enhance our delivery of thoughtful, effective communications to our valued global stakeholders as she leads these talented teams to new heights.”

She joins Estée Lauder from the Biden White House, where she served as special assistant to the president and chief of staff to the domestic policy council. Her government experience also includes tenures at the Obama White House, where Webster served as senior advisor to two white house chiefs of staff, Rahm Emanuel and Pete Rouse. She also served as deputy chief of staff to Susan Rice, then the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, while she started her career working at the Clinton White House. 

“I am thrilled to be joining The Estée Lauder Companies. Alex and MC each have done a terrific job leading the company’s global communications and public affairs functions and positioning these talented teams as strategic business partners,” said Webster. 

“It is an honor to step into this new role and I am excited to continue building on the successes of these teams in a rapidly-evolving space. I look forward to partnering with Fabrizio, William and the entire executive leadership team to drive the overall success and continued growth of ELC.”