Meridith Webster is joining The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. as Executive Vice President, Global Communications and Public Affairs, effective May 17, 2021. In this newly created role, Meridith will lead ELC’s global communications and public affairs strategic agendas to advance and protect its business interests and corporate reputation globally, while strengthening key relationships to drive value. She will also serve as a strategic advisor to the ELC’s Executive Leadership Team, the Board of Directors and the Lauder Family.

Meridith will report to Executive Chairman William P. Lauder, and President and Chief Executive Officer Fabrizio Freda. She succeeds Alexandra (Alex) Trower – who announced her retirement as head of Global Communications, and Maria Cristina [MC] González Noguera, current head of Global Public Affairs, who is joining Popular Inc., the Puerto Rico-based global financial services conglomerate, as EVP and Chief Communications and Public Affairs Officer.

Most recently, served in the Biden White House as Special Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to the Domestic Policy Council. Meridith started her career working at the Clinton White House and the U.S. State Department before earning her J.D. Degree at Georgetown University Law Center. Prior to serving in the Biden Administration, she served as Vox Media’s first-ever Chief Communications Officer, overseeing strategic and crisis communications and media relations across a growing modern media company, including editorial networks and advertising, studios, and podcasting.

“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,” Meridith said. “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.”

William P. Lauder offered, “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, 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.”