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“There’s change in the organisation – and then there’s Annette leaving.”
The Annette in question is Annette Alvarenga-Johnson, Director Global Communications for Estée Lauder Travel Retailing in London. After a remarkable 34 years with the American beauty giant, Annette has decided to step down and (for a while at least) take a break from working life.
The words above, uttered by one of her colleagues this morning at The Estée Lauder Companies’ magnificent new London offices, sum up the respect and affection with which she is regarded internally. No-one, they say, is irreplaceable in an organisation. Try telling that to Annette’s colleagues.
Together with The Moodie Davitt Report Associate Editor (and beauty products specialist) Clare Austin (pictured below right), I met Annette this morning for a farewell breakfast, in the good company of Sue Fox, Vice President/General Manager Europe, Middle East & Africa and Sarah Martin, Assistant Communications Manager at the Travel Retail Global Press Office.
It was a nice chance to say thank you to Annette. A thank you on many levels. For being such an outstanding professional in the communications field; for understanding and appreciating the nuances and needs of the media; and for being an eminently decent human being to deal with. I know my views are shared by Moodie Davitt colleagues past and present, by rival media, and by all those in the travel retail industry who have dealt with Annette since she moved into the channel in 1989.
The Moodie Davitt Report deals with many communication and PR companies and individuals. There are as many shades of quality among them as there are shades of lipstick across The Estée Lauder Companies’ portfolio. None shine brighter than Annette. She is a professional of impeccable integrity, expertise, enthusiasm and elan.
To adapt her colleague’s words, there’s change in travel retail. And then there’s Annette leaving. We shall miss her.
I am so proud to be associated with Annette for a great majority of those 34 years both professionally and a personal friend. Annette is a legend and many friends will join me to suggest there will never be another Annette in any organisation anywhere!