First Lady Selects Maria Cristina González As Communications Director

Maria Cristina González Noguera (LinkedIn)

Talk about shifting gears.

Maria Cristina González Noguera, known as “MC,” is leaving her job as global vice president of Estée Lauder to be First Lady Michelle Obama’s communications director.

“MC brings a fresh perspective and a wealth of expertise that will make her an incredible asset to our team,” said the First Lady’s announcement. “My time at the White House has been focused on ensuring all our children and families thrive, and as an experienced communications professional who shares my commitment to this mission, I know MC will be an outstanding partner.”

González Noguera, a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, received a Bachelor of Arts in international relations from Tufts University in 1997, according to her LinkedIn page.

She has been working at of Estée Lauder since 2005, her page said.

About her time at the company, she wrote on the site that she led a 20-person global team "responsible for enhancing and protecting the Estée Lauder Companies brand, one of the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of prestige beauty products, with over 27 brands sold in over 150 countries and close to $10 billion in revenue.”

The White House biography about González Noguera said that she is married and has a one-year-old son.

González Noguera will be succeeding Kristina Schake, who, The Washington Post noted, “helped make Michelle Obama a viral video star and ubiquitous magazine cover presence.”

Schake, the Post said, “ has been at Obama’s side as she has stretched the traditional role of a first lady to include ‘mom dancing’ on Jimmy Fallon’s late-night talk show and presenting the best picture trophy at the Academy Awards.”

Schake will take the job of chief communications officer at L’Oreal USA.

A writer in Forbes said González Noguera’s appointment is significant for Latinos.

“Most of all — please pay attention — she’s a world-class consumer marketing exec who just happens to be Hispanic,” the Forbes story said. “The [President] and [First Lady] both grasp the importance of excellence in consumer (read = citizen) marketing and communications.”