Ronald S. Lauder, a long-standing member of The Estée Lauder Companies’ board of directors, has announced his retirement, effective January 10, 2025.
Ronald S. Lauder, a long-standing member of The Estée Lauder Companies’ board of directors, has announced his retirement, effective January 10, 2025.
Lauder has been a board member since 2016, serving as a class II director. His decision to step down is reportedly not due to any disagreements with the company’s operations or practices. While retiring from the board, Ronald will continue his role as chairman of Clinique Laboratories LLC.
Taking his place on the board is Eric Zinterhofer, Lauder's designee under the stockholders’ agreement. Zinterhofer is the founding partner of Searchlight Capital Partners, a private equity firm where he oversees operations alongside two other founding partners. He brings extensive experience in investment management, having worked on transactions such as leveraged buyouts and recapitalizations.
The moves follow the high-profile departure of Jane Lauder from company management.
Zinterhofer is also connected to the Lauder family, married to Aerin Lauder, style and design director for Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv, and is the brother-in-law of Jane Lauder, a current board member.
As a non-employee director, Zinterhofer will receive compensation as outlined in the company’s proxy statement from September 2024. Additionally, he will continue the Lauder family’s significant involvement with Estée Lauder, which collectively holds approximately 84% of the company’s voting power.
