“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,” says Meridith Webster, incoming Executive Vice President, Global Communications and Public Affairs at ELC, in this week’s media release announcing her appointment.
“It is an honor,” she tells the press, “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.”
Meridith Webster brings US Government experience and major media knowhow to ELC
Webster was most previously Special Assistant to the President Biden and Chief of Staff to the Domestic Policy Council in the current US administration. In the Obama White House, she worked as Senior Advisor to Rahm Emanuel and Pete Rouse (both White House Chiefs of Staff). While Susan Rice was the US Ambassador to the United Nations, Webster was her Deputy Chief of Staff. And she also served during the Clinton administration and in the US State Department.
Webster joined Vox Media in 2018 as that independent online media company’s first Chief Communications Officer. And, as this week’s media release notes, “She also previously led the Public Affairs practice at Emerson Collective and served as Global Head of Public Affairs at Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies where she managed the expansion of the business and established public affairs and communications functions in Washington, New York and globally.”
Meridith Webster’s responsibilities at ELC span 2 functions and multiple teams
“Meridith’s deep public and private sector experience, coupled with her core values and leadership style, make her uniquely suited to step into this role now,” ELC Executive Chairman William P. Lauder, tells the press. “I am so proud of the incredible work of our Global Communications and Public Affairs teams and I know they will be in great hands under Meridith’s leadership as she joins our ELC family.”
Webster will, effectively, replace 2 previous communications leaders when she begins her new EVP role on Monday, May 18: Alexandra (Alex) Trower, Head of Global Communications, who retires in June; and Maria Cristina (MC) González Noguera, Head of Global Public Affairs, who is moving on from beauty to be the EVP and Chief Communications and Public Affairs Officer at financial services company Banco Popular.
Charged to lead ELC’s global communications and public affairs strategy, Webster will also advise the company’s executive leadership, board of directors, and the Lauder family.
“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,” says President and CEO Fabrizio 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,” adds Freda.