PARIS — La Prairie Group has named Estelle Létang chief executive officer, effective April 1.

On the prestige beauty brand, the seasoned Estée Lauder Cos. executive will report on to Patrick Rasquinet, a member of the manager board at Beiersdorf, La Prairie’s parent company. 

Létang is to be based in La Prairie’s headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. She succeeds Philippe Lamy within the CEO role.

La Prairie said in a press release her responsibilities will include steering its strategic direction and long-term vision. Létang is to oversee each day management of the corporate’s business operations, business priorities and infrastructure worldwide. 

For the past 21 years, she has worked at Lauder, starting at Darphin in Latest York, Paris and Hong Kong. While within the latter city, the manager was appointed Asia Pacific vp/general manager for La Mer and Jo Malone London. In 2016, Létang became vp/general manager international of Jo Malone London, based within the U.K. capital. And since 2020, she has lived in Dubai, serving as general manager of the Middle East zone for Lauder.

“With a powerful proven track record in the wonder and cosmetics industry — across fragrance, makeup and skincare — Estelle brings a wealth of information and hands-on expertise to La Prairie,” Rasqinet said in a press release. “We’re glad to have found someone so completed to steer our beautiful brand and to encourage our passionate people in the following stage of the La Prairie journey.”

“Throughout the world of beauty, La Prairie stands out as the head of luxury and excellence,” Létang said. “The opportunities lying ahead for La Prairie are vast. I’m excited to steer the transformation and to work closely with the talented teams to construct the longer term of La Prairie together.”

La Prairie, like other prestige beauty brands, faced serious headwinds within the travel retail channel and mainland China in 2023. Those caused the brand’s sales to diminish 15.4 percent last 12 months, in accordance with Beiersdorf.

Within the 12-month period, the group’s overall sales reached 9.5 billion euros, up 10.8 percent year-on-year on an organic basis.

La Prairie was within the news most recently when Beiersdorf in late February said it plans to purchase Clinique La Prairie real estate in Montreux, Switzerland, which might reunite the La Prairie brand with its birthplace.