Israel Assa, the highly regarded Global President, Travel Retail Worldwide at The Estée Lauder Companies, is leaving his role with immediate effect.
Assa has enjoyed an outstanding career with the American beauty powerhouse over more than 23 years, culminating in his appointment to the travel retail leadership role in May 2022. For the balance of the company’s fiscal year (ending 30 June), he will assist the new leadership in the transition.
The travel retail reins have been assumed by another much-respected industry identity, Olivier Dubos, who becomes Senior Vice President and General Manager, Travel Retail Worldwide.
Dubos now heads the key global travel retail organisation, including the channel’s complete leadership team in New York and across the APAC, EMA and Americas regions. He will divide his time between Switzerland and Singapore, while also spending time in New York and with his leadership teams globally.
The changes come as the company continues to grapple with intense pressures on its key North Asia travel retail business, largely driven by the troubled Hainan and South Korean markets and a softening Chinese spend on skincare.
Dubos joined The Estée Lauder Companies this June as Strategic Business Advisor.
Before that Dubos was Chief Commercial Officer Global for LVMH-owned Fresh, following a highly sucessful stint of more than five years as Senior Vice President – Travel Retail Worldwide for Parfums Christian Dior, capping a stellar 11-year tenure with the company.
Earlier in his career he was L’Oreal Luxe Travel Retail Asia-Pacific General Manager.
Announcing the changes in an internal memorandum, The Estée Lauder Companies Group President, International Peter Jueptner said: “Israel’s 23-year career within travel retail at The Estée Lauder Companies has included leadership positions of increasing responsibility in New York, Miami and Zurich, and his leadership has dramatically increased the channel’s size, sophistication and importance to the enterprise.”
He added: “Israel has played an important role in shaping the evolution of the travel retail business, and his many contributions to the channel and the wider enterprise will be remembered. Please join me in congratulating him on his many achievements, and in wishing him all the best in his future endeavors.”
Commenting on Dubos’s appointment Jueptner said: “Olivier has extensive global experience in the prestige beauty space, specifically in its intersections with the complexities of the Chinese consumer market.
“Olivier’s profound knowledge of consumer and traveller behavior, his drive in enhancing market presence and attention to expanding product offerings, as well as his consolidated relationships with key stakeholders in the APAC and China markets, will be instrumental assets in leading the Travel Retail Worldwide team forward into its next chapter.” ✈
