62: David Daniels, Ex-CEO Asia, Le Creuset

<p>62: David Daniels, Ex-CEO Asia, Le Creuset</p> <p>David Daniels shares his global experience managing various luxury cosmetics, retail and manufacturing companies in Europe and APAC, successfully rebuilding struggling businesses.</p> <p> </p> <p>Mr. Daniels spent 12 years at Yves Saint Laurent, starting out as an intern in Paris, and experienced several roles in marketing and sales including an Area Manager and Brand Manager in the UK. He was eventually promoted to Marketing Manager, leading a team of 16 staff at the age of 29. Mr. Daniels has since then experienced various leadership roles in a global environment as Vice President and General Manager of Marketing Services at Coty Prestige, President of Asia Pacific at Georg Jensen, and General Manager Middle East at Saks Fifth Avenue, and President/CEO Japan at Folli Follie Group. Mr. Daniels most recently led Le Creuset Asia as their CEO.</p> <p> </p> <p>After an extensive career in the cosmetics industry as a marketing and sales manager at Yves Saint Laurent and Coty Prestige, Mr. Daniels moved to Australia where he experienced first hand the challenge of engaging the local market with headquarters. Yet Mr. Daniels’ fascination with Asia led him to work at Georg Jensen, a Danish watch and jewelry company, as their APAC President. Once in Japan, Mr. Daniels fell in love with the country immediately. At Georg Jensen, Mr. Daniels successfully bought out Georg Jensen from a joint venture partnership with Takashimaya.</p> <p> </p> <p>Mr. Daniels then worked to bring more energy to the operational management side of the organization. By spending time in the stores and asking his staff for feedback, Mr. Daniels discovered that although the Japan team had many great ideas on organizing promotional activities and creating customized products, it was not being communicated clearly to headquarters. Therefore, Mr. Daniels set up a product council who worked to create Japan exclusive products, which later became best sellers. In doing so, the engagement level between th