The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. Completes Planned Senior Management Succession

--Appointments Become Effective July 1, 2009

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL) announced today that it has
completed its senior management succession plan first announced in
November 2007. Completion of the plan was approved by the Company's
Board of Directors this week. These appointments will be effective July
1, 2009, the start of the Company's fiscal year 2010.

As President and Chief Executive Officer, Fabrizio Freda, 51, who is
currently President and Chief Operating Officer, will be responsible for
developing the Company's overall vision, strategy, financial objectives
and investment priorities. He will be accountable for the achievement of
the Company's overall corporate performance objectives, including
revenue, profit, and return on invested capital goals. Mr. Freda will
also become a member of the Company's Board of Directors as of July 1,
2009.

William P. Lauder, 48, the Company's current Chief Executive Officer,
will become Executive Chairman and will serve as Chairman of The Estee
Lauder Companies' Board of Directors. As Executive Chairman, Mr. Lauder
will partner with Mr. Freda to create significant long-term shareholder
value for the Company's investors. Together with Mr. Freda, Mr. Lauder
will help drive and support the Company's brand and global expansion
opportunities in addition to his day-to-day management responsibilities.

Leonard Lauder, the current Chairman of the Board, will remain on the
Board and become Chairman Emeritus.

Mr. Freda has been a key architect of the Company's long-term strategic
plan, which is focused on gaining market share in the global prestige
beauty industry and improving profitability. The Company is committed to
successfully executing its multi-pronged plan, particularly in the face
of the current challenging economic climate. The Company will also make
further investments in consumer knowledge and global research and
development to drive innovation and creativity, which have been
hallmarks of its 63-year history.

The four-year strategy prioritizes the Company's most promising
opportunities, including its core brands, most profitable categories,
high-growth distribution channels, expanding markets, and important
countries and regions. The strategy's other critical elements are
designed to reduce expenses, integrate brands and regions to improve
efficiency and leverage scale, and turn around underperforming brands.

"It is a great honor to lead this fantastic Company to even greater
heights of success," Mr. Freda said. "I'm pleased to have gained the
confidence of the Lauder family, the Board and, most of all, the
Company's greatest asset, its more than 30,000 employees worldwide. As
we embark on this next chapter, guided by our new corporate vision to
imagine, integrate and innovate, we expect to deliver unparalleled
creativity, improve efficiency and unite the brands and regions into a
cohesive whole."

"Fabrizio is a superb leader. In just one year, he has done a tremendous
job in leading the implementation of our Company's long-term strategic
plan," William Lauder said. "Fabrizio expertly balances the need for
greater efficiencies and financial discipline while fostering innovation
and creativity." He continued, "I believe we have great potential to
continue to develop groundbreaking, innovative products, grow market
share, and find new avenues of distribution as the leading prestige
beauty player worldwide."

Leonard Lauder said, "Fabrizio is a perfect fit with The Estee Lauder
Companies' culture. His strategic vision and ability to keep the
consumer at the center of our business model will be instrumental in
continuing to take us forward. I have every confidence that Fabrizio and
William will make this leadership transition seamlessly, and together
they will lead the Company to new heights."

"I am extremely proud of how far William has taken the Company during
his tenure as CEO. During his watch, the Company accelerated its
international growth significantly, particularly in China and Russia,
and successfully expanded its global reach by entering new countries
such as India and Vietnam. William was the driving force in expanding
distribution into new channels, including Company-owned free-standing
stores and the fast growing direct response television channel. He also
led the Company's e-commerce initiative, which today is our fastest
growing channel. Included in his many accomplishments, he led the
creation of BeautyBank, the Company's entrepreneurial think tank,
founded the Origins Brand and served as President of the Clinique brand
earlier in his career," said Leonard Lauder.

Prior to joining The Estee Lauder Companies, Mr. Freda had a 20-year
career at Procter & Gamble, where he was responsible for various
operating, marketing and key strategic efforts. Most recently, Mr. Freda
was President, Global Snacks. In this role he led the business and
managed employees, factories and research and development centers around
the world. Previously, Mr. Freda spent more than a decade in positions
of increasing responsibility in the Health and Beauty Care division at
P&G. Earlier in his career he directed marketing and strategic planning
for Gucci SpA. Mr. Freda earned degrees in Economics and Business
Administration from the University of Naples, Italy. He is married and
has two children.

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. is one of the world's leading
manufacturers and marketers of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance and
hair care products. The Company's products are sold in over 140
countries and territories under the following brand names: Estee Lauder,
Aramis, Clinique, Prescriptives, Lab Series, Origins, M-A-C, Bobbi
Brown, Tommy Hilfiger, Kiton, La Mer, Donna Karan, Aveda, Jo Malone,
Bumble and bumble, Darphin, Michael Kors, American Beauty,
Flirt!, Good Skin(TM), Grassroots Research Labs, Sean John, Missoni, Daisy
Fuentes, Tom Ford, Mustang, Coach, Ojon and Eyes by Design.

An electronic version of this release can be found at the Company's
website, www.elcompanies.com.

The forward-looking statements in this press release, including those
containing words like "expect," "plan," "believe" and those in Mr. W.
Lauder's, Mr. L. Lauder's and Mr. Freda's remarks, involve risks and
uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those forward-looking statements include current
economic and other conditions in the global marketplace, shifts in the
preferences of consumers as to where and how they shop for the types of
products the Company sells, competition, the Company's ability to
successfully implement its long-term strategic plan and those described
in this press release and the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended December 31, 2008.

SOURCE: The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. 
Investor Relations: 
Dennis D'Andrea, 212-572-4384 
or 
Media Relations: 
Alexandra Trower, 212-572-4430

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