Erno Laszlo Grows Global Presence

Charles Denton becomes Executive Chairman and names Rochelle Weitzner Chief Executive Officer

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Dec 13, 2013, 09:02 ET

NEW YORK, Dec. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Erno Laszlo New York, the luxury skincare brand founded in 1927 by legendary dermatologist, Dr. Erno Laszlo, announces that former CEO, Charles Denton will assume the role of Executive Chairman and has named Rochelle Weitzner Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2014. These management shifts herald the company's continued expansion within the United States and Asia.

With a history of reinvigorating heritage brands, Denton acquired the cult brand Erno Laszlo with backing from RBS Equity Finance in 2011. Under his leadership, Erno Laszlo has re-curated its product assortment to meet the needs of modern consumers, while shifting focus to hero products and re-opening Dr. Laszlo's famed members-only skincare destination, THE INSTITUTE in SoHo, New York. Most notably, global retail sales have soared in 2013. Prior to Denton's appointment, revenues declined every year and are now growing for the first time in more than a decade.

"Our new leadership structure comes at an exciting time for the brand as we connect with the next generation of Erno Laszlo devotees and look to the rapidly growing Asian markets as a key trajectory," says Denton. "The Asian consumer has truly embraced our brand, proving our legitimacy as a skincare authority on the international stage."

Added Weitzner, "I am excited to be leading the Erno Laszlo business as we look to accelerate our footprint and deliver the visionary skincare rituals and philosophies of Dr. Laszlo worldwide. Our reinvention has caught the imagination of new consumers with a resurgence of interest in Dr. Laszlo's original muses – including Marilyn Monroe, Jacqueline Kennedy and Grace Kelly. While many people wrote off Dr. Laszlo's ritual as being outdated, our sales speak volumes and herald a consumer shift toward timeless, proven skincare routines that work."

Before joining Erno Laszlo, Denton was Chairman of Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity in London. Prior to that, he worked at Molton Brown for fifteen years in various roles including Sales & Marketing Director, Chief Executive and Deputy Chairman. In 2005, the company was sold to Kao Corporation of Japan at which point he left the business. Denton began his career in financial services at London based Charles Sturge & Co.

Weitzner has served as Chief Operating Officer of Erno Laszlo for the past year. Previously, she was Chief Financial Officer of Gurwitch Products, the global skincare enterprise best known for its Laura Mercier and RéVive brands. Prior to joining Gurwitch, Rochelle spent 19 years with International Paper. During her tenure she held various senior VP of finance roles for $1 billion businesses within the group. In this capacity, Rochelle served on the Board of Directors of several companies, including one of the largest publicly traded corporations in Turkey. Rochelle graduated from the Tulane University Freeman School of Business with a BSM in business and a dual major in finance and accounting. She earned her MBA from the Vanderbilt University Owen School of Business.

About Erno Laszlo
Erno Laszlo was founded in 1927 by the eponymous Hungarian born medical doctor who fell into dermatology after the notoriety he gained for transforming the complexion of Princess Stephanie of Belgium. His clientele was a 'Who's Who' of royalty, society and Hollywood. By the late 1940s, the 'Erno Laszlo Institute' in New York had a strictly limited membership of 3,000 clients. In 1957, Erno Laszlo's preparations were introduced to a wider audience at Saks Fifth Avenue. Dr. Laszlo's philosophy of creating tailor made products specifically formulated to confront the signs of premature aging, environmental hazards and the stress of a modern lifestyle has earned Erno Laszlo its reputation for 85 years of kept promises. Erno Laszlo continues to be the leader in skincare innovation with the reopening of THE INSTITUTE in SoHo, New York.

SOURCE Erno Laszlo