SAN JUAN, PR — María Cristina González Noguera, most recently Estée Lauder Companies’ global public affairs lead, is joining financial services conglomerate Popular as chief communications and public affairs officer.

In the executive VP role, González Noguera will oversee Popular’s newly integrated communications and public affairs function, which includes strategic comms, government affairs and ESG.

She will report to Popular’s president and CEO Ignacio Alvarez, serve on the senior management team and provide strategic counsel to the company’s board of directors and executive team. 

González Noguera’s appointment coincides with the departure of corporate communications head Teruca Rullán, who is retiring after 16 years with the company. Popular's subsidiaries include Puerto Rico’s Banco Popular and Popular Bank in the mainland US.

González Noguera brings more than 20 years of experience to the role gleaned from a total of 13 years at Estée Lauder and two years in the Obama White House, where she served as a special assistant to President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama’s communications director.

González Noguera assumed her current role leading Estée Lauder public affairs in 2016, after leaving the White House. Earlier in her career, she served as the company’s VP of corporate communications.

“The functions consolidated in this new group are vital, as companies are increasingly expected to consider the impact of their activities on customers, employees, communities and the environment, as well as communicate transparently with all stakeholders,” Alvarez said.  “With more than twenty years of experience in both the public and private sectors, María Cristina is an accomplished leader who embodies the values we live by every day at Popular.  She brings valuable insights that will help us accelerate and communicate our corporate strategies. We are grateful for Teruca’s dedication and many achievements during her years of service.”