Catherine Bomboy Dougherty serves as Senior Vice President, Global Brand, Integrated Communications at The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC), where she leads transformative communication strategies for a dynamic portfolio of world-renowned beauty brands. Her role encompasses overseeing celebrity partnerships, crafting breakthrough earned media strategies, and driving consumer engagement through cultural relevance and authentic storytelling. With an innovative approach to communications, Catherine has been instrumental in positioning ELC brands as leaders in the beauty industry through culture-setting partnerships, ensuring their resonance in today’s rapidly evolving landscape.
A seasoned beauty industry executive with nearly 20 years at ELC, Catherine has held a variety of leadership roles across brands. She spent the majority of her career at M·A·C Cosmetics, serving as Senior Vice President, Global Communications and Partnerships. At M·A·C, Catherine played a pivotal role in creating and amplifying groundbreaking campaigns that redefined beauty marketing, working with global icons such as Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga, and Mariah Carey. Her ability to connect brands with pop culture moments and high-impact partnerships not only attracted new consumers but also
cemented M·A·C’s position as a trailblazer in culture and trends.
In her current role, Catherine elevates brand equities by fostering meaningful connections with influential communities for strong advocacy. She secured partnerships with key celebrity talent for notable campaigns including Emilia Clarke and Marsai Martin for CLINIQUE, Martha Stewart for M·A·C, Amanda Gorman for The Estée Lauder Companies, and Pamela Anderson for Smashbox. She also secured a Rizzoli book deal, Make S#!+ Happen, for Smashbox founder Davis Factor, showcasing her ability to amplify brand narratives through unique storytelling platforms.
Catherine’s journey in the beauty industry began with editorial work and roles in public relations and branding agencies in Philadelphia and New York, including Marina Maher Communications, where she managed iconic beauty accounts such as Max Factor and CoverGirl. Her entrepreneurial spirit and perseverance, inspired by her father’s work ethic, have been cornerstones of her career.
A strong advocate for giving back, Catherine is committed to philanthropy. Her involvement with M·A·C VIVA GLAM, ELC’s Breast Cancer Campaign, and working to create Writing Change with ELC and Amanda Gorman, have been the most rewarding aspects of her career. She is also the co-founder of The Tidelands Initiative, a non-profit dedicated to preserving New Jersey wetlands by removing plastic and trash pollution—an effort she leads alongside her husband.
Catherine finds her greatest joy in raising three children. Balancing her demanding career with family life, she remains passionate about nurturing creativity, resilience, and purpose, both at work and at home.