Michael Bowes is the Senior Vice President of Global Talent and a member of the Global HR Leadership team at The Estée Lauder Companies. Michael initially joined ELC in 2015 as the Vice President of Global Talent Acquisition, where he led the creation and development of a centralized Talent Acquisition recruitment function and the global implementation of the current applicant tracking system.
He then moved into his current role as Senior Vice President where he continues to lead Global Talent Acquisition and oversees end-to-end Talent Management including Executive Talent Management, Talent Development, and Enterprise Learning and Development. Michael and his team are responsible for designing and delivering strategic programs that enhance ELC’s ability to attract, develop, and retain exceptional talent. Some of these programs include: the implementation of an internal talent marketplace for employees to explore career opportunities and grow their skills, the delivery of employee listening surveys to improve the employee experience through data-driven insights, and the facilitation of robust leadership development programs to build future leaders at all levels of the company.
Michael also plays a critical role in advancing the company’s talent agenda relating to Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity. He serves as a member of the company’s Racial Equity Steering Committee and has advanced the company’s partnerships with diversity organizations such as National Black MBA Association, ColorComm, HBCUs, and others. He is also an Executive Sponsor of ELC’s Mentorship and Sponsorship Programs to champion for equitable access to advancement and opportunity for Black and Latinx talent.
Prior to joining ELC in 2015, Michael was a Managing Director of Executive Search at Karen Harvey Consulting. He also has extensive experience in both Talent Acquisition and as an HR Business Partner at various retail organizations including Coach, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Cole Haan, and Saks Fifth Avenue.
