The Maximalist by Michaela Cordes | 29th February, 2024 | Personalities
After 30 years at Estée Lauder, the former group president made an unexpected pivot. Now he’s back – with a new job, the support of his friends and a book that explores his singular style and philosophy on life.
Due to fallout from the meme, the top executive of Estée Lauder first took a leave of absence and later announced that he would be leaving the company. “The irony is that my career was built on inclusion and diversity,” Demsey says, “I have done more for people of different skin tones and genders than anyone else in the beauty industry.” In the 18 months that followed, his six-story townhouse became a saving refuge. He suddenly turned persona non grata, lost 15 kilograms and experienced additional drama in his private life. “Both my parents became very ill. My father passed away during that time. My mother also went through a very difficult phase, but I was able to bring her to New York, where she is thriving at 91. My daughter was also negatively affected, with cyberbullying and online issues.”
But John Demsey didn’t give up; he started as Senior Advisor at L. Catterton, a private equity firm connected with LVMH, and embarked on an unusual book project with Vendome Press after being persuaded by his friends, interior photographer Douglas Friedman and fashion journalist Alina Cho. The plan: a coffee-table book about his unique life, aesthetics and philosophy. “My friend Douglas said: ‘Your house has been seen in Architectural Digests around the world, but no one has really captured the personality behind it. You – who understands the art of collecting like no other and wants to live creativity without boundaries.’”
The photo production lasted 17 days. Together with Dutch stylist Mieke ten Have, Demsey showcased his masterfully decorated house. “The project became almost a physical manifestation of who I am, a creative passion project,” he recalls. The work “Behind the Blue Door – A Maximalist Mantra” was published just over six months ago. A glamorous book party in his house last September marked Demsey’s reentry into New York’s society: “I had a lot of support from the fashion world.” Demsey also highlights the exceptional friendship and mentorship of Leonard Lauder in our conversation, saying: “He remains a positive force in my life.”
John Demsey continues to run his Instagram account. Today he has 2.1 million followers. The advice from his crisis manager helped. Demsey: “When I asked him at the time if I should cancel my account, his answer was: ‘Absolutely not. The 0.01% who hate you will do so forever. But you have to stay optimistic. Don’t look back, only forward.’”





