As heartfelt tributes pour in for Leonard Lauder, Chairman Emeritus of The Estée Lauder Cos, CEW President, Carlotta Jacobson, writes a letter to CEW members, remembering her friend, colleague, and industry giant. “For more than 30 years I had the privilege of knowing and working alongside a man who was not only a visionary leader but also a true friend. He was generous with his wisdom, unwavering in his support of others, and deeply committed to the advancement of our industry — especially when it came to championing women,” writes Jacobson. “He stood with us at CEW through every milestone, every challenge, and every moment of growth. He believed in our mission, and more importantly, he believed in the people behind it.”

In big executive news, Kering has tapped Luca de Meo to be the company’s next CEO. “De Meo’s appointment was approved by Kering’s Board of Directors and is part of a broader governance overhaul initiated by current CEO and Chairman François-Henri Pinault,” reports Global Cosmetics News. “The move will formally separate the roles of CEO and Chairman, aligning the luxury group’s leadership structure with standard practices for large publicly listed companies.”

WWD has an exclusive report on the possible sale of Coty. “Multiple sources have told WWD that the company may be seeking buyers for its businesses,” according to the article. “While the sources said talks are in the very early stages, a number have told WWD that Coty, jointly listed in New York and Paris, is exploring a potential sell-off in two parts.” 

On the personal finance front, in her latest column for CEW, Ashley Feinstein Gerstley offers a roadmap for building your own financial Dream Team, who will best support your goals. “The people we spend the most time with end up having a big impact on our financial lives and specifically, our spending choices,” she explains. “When you let your Dream Team in on your goals, a beautiful thing can happen.” Also here at CEW, Lauren Smith Brody explains why your toughest boss might also be a working mother, in her latest CEW column, The Mother Of Wisdom.

In beauty tech, e.l.f. Beauty is launching Color e.l.f.nalysis, a tool designed to help users match makeup shades to suit their features. “They’ll do this with help from a curated Pinterest board featuring shoppable e.l.f. products tailored to their individual color story,” reports Happi. And in breaking news from across the pond, Clare Horner, Beauty Director at Harvey Nichols, has stepped down from her role, after four years with the London store.

Read more about these and other news stories by clicking on the links below.

Carlotta Jacobson, CEW President, Pays Tribute To Leonard Lauder. “I remember a conversation I had with him years ago that’s stayed with me to this day,” writes Jacobson in a personal letter to CEW members. “He told me, ‘If you ask a man to climb a mountain, he will go climb it. But if you ask a woman, she’ll pause, make a plan, and gather the right people before she started.'” (CEW)

Kering Taps Luca de Meo As Next CEO. The transition is due to take effect after a shareholder meeting scheduled for September 9, 2025. “De Meo’s appointment signals a shift toward experienced operational leadership as Kering looks to revitalize growth across its luxury portfolio,” reports Global Cosmetics News. (GLOBAL COSMETICS NEWS)

Building Your Financial Dream Team. In her latest CEW column, Money Matters With The Fiscal Femme, Ashley Feinstein Gerstley shares strategies for identifying those who will support your goals and reveals who is on her own team: “My husband, Justin, is an extremely important member of my Dream Team. He cares about me, and we make a lot of financial decisions together,” she writes. (CEW)

When Your Toughest Boss Is Also A Working Mom. Lauren Smith Brody unpacks the “survivor bias” behind working moms of a certain generation, and how to break the cycle. (CEW)

Coty Possibly For Sale, Reports WWD. “According to some industry sources, the sticking point regarding a potential sale of Coty is whether the group could find a buyer for its mass division,” it states, in an exclusive report. (WWD)

e.l.f.Beauty Launches Pinterest Tool. “‘Color e.l.f.nalysis’ is about breaking down beauty barriers and making personalized color analysis accessible to every eye, lip, and face—for free,” said Patrick O’Keefe, Chief Integrated Marketing Communications Officer at e.l.f. Beauty. (HAPPI)

Claire Horner Departs Harvey Nichols. “I’ve been fortunate enough to work with some of the most inspiring brands and partners in the industry,” said Horner, who has been the store’s Beauty Director for four years. (COSMETICS BUSINESS)

L’Oréal Groupe Launches #JoinTheRefillMovement. Its first global multi-brand, multicategory, multi-channel campaign was unveiled to coincide with World Refill Day, yesterday. (BEAUTY PACKAGING)