Aerin Lauder is branching out of the Estée Lauder family empire to launch her own company with the guidance of Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour and former NBC Universal head honcho Jeff Zucker.
“Aerin wants to be the next Tory Burch” — if not bigger, sources told Page Six. Lauder, 40, a granddaughter of legendary company founder Estée, is planning to launch a fashion and lifestyle brand that will include accessories, housewares, china and jewelry. Some of the jewelry is said to be based on pieces from her grandmother’s private collection.
Sources said the bombshell move will force Lauder, who is the third-largest shareholder at Estée Lauder, to give up her current title of senior vice president and creative director and take a consulting role at the company.
Lauder is busy recruiting an impressive lineup of talent for her new firm, including Zucker, who is a consultant, sources said. Wintour is also advising Lauder during the launch.
Lauder is also rumored to have tapped White House deputy social secretary Ebs Burnough, who left his post on Friday. Burnough sent an e-mail to friends saying it was his “last day at the White House” and that he would be coming to New York for his next gig. The White House confirmed Burnough’s departure Friday night, but would not comment on his next move.
Our sources also said that Lauder has already staked out office space on East 57th Street. The business will be located in the same building as Tom Ford and a few blocks away from Estée Lauder’s corporate headquarters.
Lauder’s move to step out and build her own company will be a blow because she is the family member most closely compared in style and spirit to Estée. “I look at Aerin, and I see Estée,” her uncle, Leonard Lauder once said. An Estée Lauder spokeswoman said: “Aerin Lauder is a vital part of the Estée Lauder Companies and the Estée Lauder brand. She will continue to have a senior creative role with the brand and will continue as a member of the board of directors of the company. An announcement is forthcoming about her future business plans.”