Wharton To Honor Leonard A. Lauder with Retail Excellence Award

The Jay H. Baker Retailing Center at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the Retail Leaders Circle will present Leonard A. Lauder, chairman emeritus of The Estée Lauder Companies, with the Retail Excellence Award for his outstanding contributions to the retail and beauty sectors, along with his philanthropic endeavors in academia, medicine and art.

Lauder will be honored at an exclusive dinner event on October 16  at the Rainbow Room in New York City.

“Leonard Lauder’s remarkable influence and achievements in the industry are matched only by his generosity as a philanthropist,” said Thomas S. Robertson, Joshua J. Harris Professor and professor of marketing at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. “His business acumen, global vision, and innovative ideas are legendary to us all.”

Lauder is an alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and has provided philanthropic support for various Penn programs throughout the years. His contributions have transformed campus life as well as the research and teaching missions for faculty and students, according to Robertson.

Lauder is also deeply engaged in education and holds various positions at Penn, including emeritus trustee, and is a founding member of the board of governors at the Joseph H. Lauder Institute of Management and International Studies.

“As we celebrate excellence in retail, Leonard Lauder stands out as an industry visionary whose legacy and leadership have profoundly shaped both the beauty and broader retail landscapes,” said Panos Linardos, chairman, Retail Leaders Circle. “Mr. Lauder’s unparalleled impact aligns with the core values of the Retail Leaders Circle, and his lasting achievements underscore the profound influence that legendary leadership can have in shaping the trajectory of the retail industry.”

Lauder is also co-founder of the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation. His continued philanthropic contributions include a substantial gift to New York’s Whitney Museum and he has pledged his renowned collection of Cubist art to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Lauder’s career spanned three decades at the helm of The Estée Lauder Companies, which he joined in 1958. During his tenure, he initiated the establishment of the company’s first R&D laboratory and spearheaded strategic acquisitions that included renowned brands like MAC, Bobbi Brown and Aveda. While his tenure as CEO concluded in 1999, he currently holds the position of chairman emeritus.

Baker Retailing Center

The Jay H. Baker Retailing Center is an interdisciplinary industry research center at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. The Center influences research and encourages discussion on trending retail topics through programs and resources with faculty, students, and industry leaders. It was established in 2002 through a generous gift by Jay and Patty Baker. Jay Baker, former president and director of the Kohl’s Corporation, is a graduate of the Wharton School, class of 1956. Learn more about the Baker Retailing Center at bakerretail.wharton.upenn.edu.

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Lauder in August announced that he would not stand for releection on the board of directors at ELC.