Kendal Ascher, a longtime executive at the Estée Lauder Cos., has died at age 56.
The company confirmed his death but did not provide a date or cause. Ascher most recently worked as the senior vice president of the luxury portfolio and general manager, and working on strategies across La Mer, Tom Ford Beauty, Jo Malone London, Kilian Paris, Balmain Beauty and Frédéric Malle for North America. That includes three of those brands’ simultaneous store openings on Prince Street in New York’s SoHo neighborhood in 2025.
“Kendal was one of a kind, full of passion and life. He brought the best to everyone he touched — his colleagues, his retail partners and, especially, his field team. When Kendal walked into a room, he lit it up. He was full of energy, kind and funny, and he had a heart of gold. He truly loved our company, and we were all blessed to be inspired by Kendal,” said Jane Hertzmark Hudis, executive vice president and chief brand officer of the Estée Lauder Cos.
Added Tara Simon, the company’s president of the Americas, “We are heartbroken by the loss of Kendal. His impact extended far beyond his role as our North America luxury brands leader. He was a fearless advocate for his teams, a generous mentor, a lover of beauty and luxury, always an optimist and, mostly, a friend. Kendal was an incredible leader. He showed up to work the same way he lived his life — full of heart and conviction, levity and wisdom. He helped his teams believe they could accomplish things they hadn’t imagined and created success for all along the way. The outpouring from within the company and across the industry has been extraordinary and shows his immeasurable impact.”
Ascher spent 25 years at the company, where he started as a field account executive before becoming vice president of marketing. Among his accomplishments, he led La Mer to the top position in luxury skin care.
“I had the pleasure of working with Kendal for more than 20 years as he led the North America business at La Mer. He was an exceptional leader whose influence touched every part of our brand, but even more impactful were the relationships he built with our retail and media partners and, most importantly, our field teams,” said Sandra Main, global brand president of La Mer. “He led with grace, optimism and a commitment to bringing people together and making everyone feel valued. His generosity as a leader and mentor set a standard for all of us and will remain one of his most meaningful legacies.“
Ascher was an alum of the Fashion Institute of Technology’s cosmetics and fragrance marketing and management program, where he also mentored students.
“Kendal was a rare kind of industry leader, with the combination of stellar marketing talent, business acumen born in the field and an innate empathy for the consumer. He was exceptionally polished, articulate and intellectually bright, and had a sterling business reputation. As a leader, he had a huge heart, and young talent flocked to him for mentoring and learning, and he deeply valued and respected those same qualities taught to him by Mr. Leonard Lauder,” said Stephan Kanlian, the program’s chairperson.
“On a personal level, he was one of the kindest people I have ever known, and rarely were you in his presence without his arm around you, and he was known for his signature bear hugs. Like so many highly intelligent people, he had a delicious sense of humor and the most infectious, childlike laugh. As an early graduate of the master’s program at FIT [in 2005], he was one of our first superstars, voted by his classmates as the L’Oréal Student Leadership Award recipient, and I watched with joy as his career took flight. He always stayed close to me, the faculty and the program,” Kanlian said. “We were all immensely proud of Kendal at FIT, where he served as the Estée Lauder executive on our industry advisory board, and was one of the program’s first alumni award recipients.”
Ascher also sat on the board of directors for the Fragrance Foundation. “I had the privilege to know Kendal for decades, but truly grew closer to him both personally and professionally, as a valued member on the Fragrance Foundation board of directors. Kendal’s enthusiasm, passion, humor and positivity for all we shared was contagious. His commitment to mentorship, giving back and nurturing future leaders was always evident including at our recent celebration of TFF 2026 Notables which included his honoree,” said Linda G. Levy, president of the Fragrance Foundation.
“What will stay with me forever are his big bear hugs and the words he shared with me on an intense Zoom discussion we had one on one. While Kendal thanked me ‘for the coaching session,’ it was Kendal who was uplifting me. The entire fragrance and beauty community has been devastated by the much too early loss of Kendal. We at the Fragrance Foundation send our deepest sympathies to his beloved husband, family and the Estée Lauder Cos., his extended family,” Levy continued.
On the business front, his relationships ran just as deep. Kate Oldham, who formerly headed Saks Fifth Avenue’s beauty business, said, “Kendal Asher was a joy to work with. Over the 25-plus years I worked with him, his passion, dedication, sheer fun and great sense of humor were infectious. It always stood out how he made everyone feel important by treating them with kindness, curiosity and respect. His team adored and respected him and at Saks we admired and trusted him.
“He was that rare blend of marketing sage and business-driven executive — someone who truly understood how to build, drive and create brands that would endure. But Kendal’s impact went far deeper than business,” Oldham continued. “The brands he built will carry on, but the decency, kindness and warmth — that’s what he’ll be remembered for most.”
