Tracey Travis Executive Vice President of Finance and CFO, The Estée Lauder Companies
Source: The Estée Lauder Companies

Tracey Travis was named executive vice president of finance and chief financial officer of The Estée Lauder Companies in 2012, with responsibilities for global finance, accounting, investor relations, information technology, and strategy and new business development.  

Previously, Travis was senior vice president of finance and chief financial officer at Ralph Lauren Corporation from January 2005 to July 2012, with responsibility for worldwide corporate finance, inclusive of accounting, financial planning and analysis, treasury, tax and business development, as well as investor relations and information technology. During her tenure, Travis led work related to the acquisitions of licensed brands/geographies, capital structure efforts, strategic business plans, investor relations strategy and a major global systems transformation.

Travis was with Limited Brands in Columbus, Ohio, first as chief financial officer of Intimate Brands from 2001 to 2002 and as senior vice president of finance for Limited Brands from 2002 to 2004, with responsibility for operational finance for all divisions, corporate capital planning, corporate forecasting, budgeting and strategic planning. 

From 1999 to 2001, Travis was chief financial officer of the Americas Group of American National Can, where she led both the finance and information technology groups. Prior to this position, she held various management positions at Pepsico/Pepsi Bottling Group from 1989 to 1999, including group manager, new products, where she assisted in the development of the business plans for Pepsi's entrance into non–soft drink beverage categories; general manager, where she led the manufacturing, distribution and market development of beverages for the Howell, Michigan market unit; and chief financial officer, Michigan business unit. 

She began her career at General Motors first as an engineer; then, after being awarded a GM Fellowship to pursue her MBA, returned to General Motors as a financial executive, where she worked in accounting and on various international product programs, joint ventures and divestitures.

Travis served on the board of Jo-Ann Stores for eight years until the company was sold to private-equity investors in March 2011, and chaired the JAS Audit Committee for four years. She currently serves on the boards of the Campbell Soup Company and the Lincoln Center Theater. She is also a trustee on the boards of the University of Pittsburgh and Columbia University's graduate school of business. 

Travis was recognized in 2005 by Treasury and Risk Management Magazine as one of the "Top 25 Women in Finance" and in 2012 as one of the "100 Most Influential People in Finance."   

In 2008 she was granted the "Best CFO" award by Institutional Investor. In 2009 she was named one of the "Top 100 African Americans in Corporate America" by Black Enterprise magazine. That same year, Travis also received a distinguished alumni award from her alma mater, the University of Pittsburgh. In 2011 Travis was asked to serve as an inaugural member of the Wall Street Journal's CFO Forum.

Travis received a bachelor of science in industrial engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and an MBA in finance and operations management from Columbia University.