Estée Lauder Companies Announces Leadership Transition in the UK & Ireland
Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) has announced a significant leadership transition within its UK & Ireland business. Sue Fox, the esteemed Regional President (and CEW Achiever), will retire on June 30, 2025, after an extraordinary career spanning over three decades with the company. Her successor, Pernilla Nyberg, will assume the role of Senior Vice President & General Manager for UK & Ireland on January 1, 2025.
Sue’s remarkable journey at ELC has spanned a wide array of leadership roles across regions and divisions. Starting with the company more than 30 years ago, she has made transformative contributions globally. In 2006, Sue was named Managing Director for South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, spearheading ELC’s expansion into new markets, including Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire. She later moved to London to lead Travel Retail EMEA and, in 2016, relocated to Japan as General Manager, achieving strong growth in one of Asia’s most competitive markets.
In 2020, Sue returned to London as SVP & General Manager for the UK & Ireland, assuming the Regional President role six months later. She navigated the region through shifting retail dynamics and the COVID-19 pandemic while delivering consistent growth across brands and channels. A trailblazer for women in leadership, Sue holds the distinction of being the first woman to serve in her four most recent roles within the company.
Sue’s unwavering commitment to Inclusion, Diversity & Equity (ID&E) and her advocacy for the Breast Cancer Campaign underscore her passion for creating meaningful impact. Her visionary leadership and ability to build high-performing teams have established a lasting legacy.
Pernilla Nyberg, a seasoned and dynamic leader, brings a wealth of cross-functional expertise and a deep understanding of the UK & Ireland region. She previously served as Vice President, Regional CFO and Strategy Leader for the UK & Ireland from 2012 to 2016. During that time, she drove significant accomplishments, including double-digit compound annual sales growth, tripling online net sales, and achieving notable market share growth across categories. Her leadership in this role earned her recognition as a strong strategist and innovator in the region.
Pernilla’s career trajectory has been equally impressive on a global scale. From 2016 to 2020, she relocated to New York, where she was promoted to SVP, leading Global Finance & Strategy for a portfolio of brands and later North America Finance & Strategy, helping drive transformational growth. Since 2020, Pernilla has held a dual global role as SVP Global Marketing Planning and Transformation Lead for integrated business planning, collaborating across brands, regions, and functions.
Before joining ELC, Pernilla built her expertise with 15 years at Nike, where she held senior finance and strategy roles across Europe. Her early career also included experience as a tax and accounting consultant at Ernst & Young.
An advocate for inclusion, diversity, and sustainability, Pernilla is a passionate role model for women in leadership. Her proven ability to foster collaboration, build strong teams, and drive innovation ensures she is well-equipped to lead the UK & Ireland affiliate into a new era of growth.
An ELC executive shared, “We are thrilled to welcome Pernilla to this important role. Her strong leadership skills, strategic vision, and deep understanding of the beauty industry make her the ideal candidate to lead our UK & Ireland business.”
As Sue and Pernilla work closely together over the coming months to ensure a smooth handover, ELC celebrates the remarkable contributions of both leaders. The company looks forward to an exciting new chapter under Pernilla’s leadership while honoring Sue’s enduring legacy.
