The World Jewish Congress elected a new president for the organization Sunday, cosmetics heir Ronald Lauder.

A statement from the Governing Board of the World Jewish Congress said Ronald S. Lauder was elected by “an overwhelming majority” on Sunday as successor to Edgar M. Bronfman, who has been president of WJC since 1979.

Lauder had been recommended by the Executive Committee. The 63-year-old entrepreneur is the son of Estée Lauder and Joseph Lauder, founders of the Estée Lauder Companies.

He is also a philanthropist who established the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation in 1987, a charitable organization dedicated to rebuild Jewish communities in Central and Eastern Europe.

Lauder was American ambassador to Austria from 1986 to 1987 and ran for mayor of New York City in 1989.

The newly elected president told delegates in New York: “This is such an important organization. Let's do everything we can to make this what it was, glorious.”

Businessman Matthew Bronfman was elected as new Chairman of the Governing Board. According to a statement from the organization, Lauder and Bronfman will take office immediately. Their terms last until 2009.