The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. appointed Christopher Wood to lead its Strategic Modernization Initiative (SMI) as it moves into the next phase.

Mr. Wood, who will become senior vice president, Global Strategic Modernization Initiative, has been with the company since 1993 – most recently as general manager of the affiliate in Korea, which is the company’s fifth largest market. In this newly created position, he will be based in New York and become a member of the company’s Executive Leadership Team, Program Management Team and SMI Steering Team.

He will oversee all aspects of the SMI project, including the ongoing design and execution, integration of people and processes and timing of future phases.

Mr. Wood has extensive international experience and brand expertise, which will allow him to quickly evaluate and decide upon the most efficient ways to execute the SMI strategy, said the company.