Estée Lauder dismisses executive over offensive meme International beauty giant Estée Lauder has dismissed executive group president John Demsey over a racist meme shared on his personal Instagram page. The company said the meme caused widespread offence, and was damaging to the business’ drive to foster a more inclusive and diverse workplace. Demsey shared an image earlier this week that involved characters from Sesame Street, an abridged version of the n-word, and an anti-Asian slur
ian slur in a reference to Covid-19 as something that had been picked up at a concert in China.
Demsey took down the meme after users complained that the meme was offensive, and he said he shouldn’t have posted it “without reading it beforehand”.
“There are not enough words to express my remorse and sorrow,” Demsey wrote on Instagram. “Not only did I hurt many people whom I respect, the terrible mistake that I made has undermined everything I have been working for since I began my career 31 years ago.”
Hugo Boss shakes up creative team
Hugo Boss chief brand officer Ingo Wilts has stepped down from the business after six years on the board, citing personal reasons.
Wilts’ role will be combined with that of senior vice-president of creative direction Marco Falcioni, under the title of creative director.
Under the new role, Falcioni will report directly to CEO Daniel Grieder.
Additionally, Andrea Cannelloni, who left the business in 2020 to take up a position as president for the Napapijri brand at VF Corporation, will return to Hugo Boss as a creative adviser for a year.
“I look forward to working with Marco Falcioni and Andrea Cannelloni, who both bring outstanding creative style and expertise in collection development,” Grieder said.
Greenberg joins Institchu
Australian made-to-order fashion brand Institchu has named Paul Greenberg its latest non-executive director.
Greenberg will sit alongside Robin McGowan, James Wakefield, Hu Dongmei and Calvin Ng, and said he is “delighted” to join the business.
“Institchu are an Australian founded and increasingly global leader in the made-to-measure experience,” Greenberg said on his LinkedIn. “A true phygital business, with their showrooms [as] the catalyst for an ongoing online connection with their customers.”
