Charles Denton

Erno Laszlo, Chairman & CEO

Charles Denton was born in Northampton England and educated at Millfield School. In 1987 began his career at a London City institution. Dissatisfied with the world of finance in 1989 he changed direction and joined MOLTON BROWN where he worked for 15 years initially as Sales & Marketing Director before becoming Chief Executive and Deputy Chairman. Following a complete repositioning of the business from a Mayfair based hairdresser into a global luxury lifestyle brand, in 2005 the company was sold to Kao Corporation for £172m. From 2006 until 2011 Charles volunteered at various charitable organizations most notably GREAT ORMOND STREET CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL where he spent three years as Executive Director and a further three years as Chairman of Fundraising. During his tenure, the Charity raised £320m in Capital Redevelopment and Research Funds. He was Trustee of genetic research charity JEANS FOR GENES from 2006 to 2009 and in 2008 he was appointed Trustee and Chairman of the South African Orphan’s charity SENTEBALE established by Prince Harry in memory of his late mother Princess Diana. From 2009 to 2013 Charles led the award-winning advertising agency FOLD7. In 2011, with Private Equity funding, Charles acquired ERNO LASZLO, the First Doctor Founded skin care brand established in 1927. Since taking the helm as CEO and Executive Chairman the company has delivered growth every year despite pivoting the entire model away from US department stores to an international footprint with 70% of revenues derived online and over 60% coming from China. Charles is actively involved in mentoring young entrepreneurs and is often retained as a Senior Adviser on consumer acquisitions by Private Equity firms. He has six children and divides his time between New York, Shanghai, and his home in Italy.