MAM
Future Generali India Insurance celebrates Pride Month with creative zeal
Mumbai: Reinforcing its stance as a strong ally to the LGBTQIA+ community, Future Generali India Insurance Company Ltd (FGII), has taken the PRIDE celebrations a notch higher this year by throwing the doors open to all allies of the community. The company, which has been organising PRIDE celebrations across its offices in India for the past two years, has moved beyond its workplace and has tied up with the renowned theatre group Tamaasha for the exclusive screening of “Be-loved” – a play on and by the people from the community.
In line with its strategic vision of embedding DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) into its culture, not only as an inclusive insurer and employer but also as an inclusive corporate citizen, FGII has partnered with Humsafar Trust for providing education and skill-building support to LGBTQIA+ individuals in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It has handed over a cheque of Rs 17 lakh to Humsafar Trust to provide support with English-speaking courses, training in computers etc for individuals from within the community to enhance their employability.
Since the last two years, FGII has been celebrating PRIDE month in support to the community with a series of events, workshops and PRIDE parade at its offices across India. This has helped FGII in sensitising employees and generate awareness regarding LGBTQIA+ issues with a view towards normalising the conversation at the workplace and providing a conducive environment for colleagues from the community.
Screened at the Royal Opera House in Mumbai, the production – “Be-Loved,” explored queer love and companionship through theatre, music, poetry, and movement and delved into desi stories of love, connection, and family, showcasing the rich cultural contributions of the LGBTQIA+ community. Some of the noteworthy guests who attended the event included Shreegauri Sawant, a transgender activist; Trinetra Haldar, actor and Karnataka’s first transgender doctor and Bani J, Indian VJ and actress, among others.
Speaking about the pride event, Future Generali India Insurance Company Ltd. MD & CEO Anup Rau said, “This year, by taking pride beyond our offices, we aimed to reach a larger audience for education and sensitization. We think it’s great to showcase performances and queer stories, enacted by queer individuals, with most of the crew from the community. It’s a celebration more than anything else! The response to the show has been phenomenal and we will continue with our efforts to drive acceptance and belonging for the community.”
“At Future Generali, we are driven by our commitment to LGBTQIA+ rights as an inclusive employer, insurer, and corporate citizen. We’ve revolutionized our workplace culture and led the industry by being the first in India to include LGBTQIA+ and same-sex partners in our retail health insurance products. Our partnership with Humsafar Trust takes this further, providing crucial education and skill-building support to LGBTQIA+ individuals in Mumbai. Together, we’re forging a path towards a more inclusive and empowered future,” Rau added.
Brands
Estée Lauder to shed 10,000 jobs as new boss bets on digital shift
The cosmetics giant raises its profit outlook but stays silent on a possible merger with Spain’s Puig, as job cuts deepen and a three-year sales slump weighs on the turnaround
NEW YORK: Stéphane de La Faverie is not done cutting. Estée Lauder announced on Friday that it plans to eliminate as many as 3,000 additional jobs, taking its total redundancy programme to as many as 10,000 roles, up from a previous target of 7,000 announced a year ago. The company, which owns La Mer, The Ordinary, Tom Ford, and Aveda, employs roughly 57,000 people worldwide. The mathematics of what is now being contemplated is stark.
The fresh round of cuts is expected to generate a further $200 million in savings, bringing the total annual savings from the programme to as much as $1.2 billion before taxes. That money, De La Faverie has made clear, will be ploughed back into the turnaround.
A CEO in a hurry
De La Faverie, who took the helm in January 2025, inherited a company that had endured three consecutive years of annual sales declines. His response has been to move fast and cut deep. A significant portion of the latest redundancies reflects his push to reduce headcount at US department stores, long a cornerstone of Estée Lauder’s distribution model but now a channel in structural decline. In their place, he is accelerating the shift toward faster-growing online platforms, including Amazon.com and TikTok Shop, a pivot that is reshaping not just where Estée Lauder sells but how it thinks about its customers.
The numbers are moving in the right direction
Despite the pain, there are signs the medicine is working. Estée Lauder raised its profit outlook for the remainder of the fiscal year, guiding for adjusted earnings per share in the range of $2.35 to $2.45, above analyst estimates and a notable step up from the $2.05 to $2.25 range it had guided for in February. Organic net sales growth is expected to come in at 3 per cent, the company said, at the high end of the range it set out in February.
The share price tells a mixed story. After De La Faverie took charge, the stock surged nearly 60 per cent, buoyed by investor optimism that a longtime company insider could finally arrest the decline. But 2026 has been rougher: the shares have fallen 27 per cent this year, weighed down by disappointing February results and the overhang of unresolved merger talks with Spanish beauty giant Puig Brands SA. The company gave no additional details about those discussions on Friday, leaving the market to guess.
Silence on Puig
The proposed tie-up with Puig remains the most consequential unknown hanging over Estée Lauder. A deal with the Barcelona-based group, which owns brands including Carolina Herrera and Rabanne, would reshape the global luxury beauty landscape. But with nothing new to say and a turnaround still very much in progress, De La Faverie is asking investors to trust the process.
Three years of sales declines, 10,000 job cuts, and a merger that may or may not happen. At Estée Lauder, the overhaul has barely started.
