Built to Build
C-Suite Commercial Leader
Decades in, the pattern is clear. Every role I have taken started the same way: something was broken, undefined, or ready to become what it had never been. I walked in to build what wasn't there.
At IHG, I led the $200M transformation of Crowne Plaza and launched Voco Hotels from paper concept to franchise-ready across Europe, the Middle East, and Australia in six months. At Hershey, I built new distribution models and product portfolio to expand the business in Brazil, India, China and Mexico, created a global brand building framework, and managed a $350M global advertising budget. At Kodak, I grew the single-use camera business from $500M to $700M. At Herschend, I helped turn Dollywood into a national destination and integrated the Harlem Globetrotters acquisition, growing attendance past one million. At Gravity Haus, I came in as COO, was elevated to Chief Commercial Officer, and delivered +85% EBITDA growth alongside the highest guest satisfaction scores in company history. At Blue Heron, I built the commercial infrastructure from the ground up, originated the brand purpose "We Create the Future of Home," and created Vital Longevity, a science-based wellness program that Forbes cited within the $1 trillion wellness real estate movement.
Different industries. Different stages. The same work: build the commercial architecture, the brand belief system, and the team to deliver on both.
The next inflection point is always out there. A premium brand ready to expand. A growth-stage company that needs Fortune 500 rigor without Fortune 500 bureaucracy. That is the conversation I live for.
Leadership Philosophy
Step into the mess.
When an organization faces its toughest challenge, be the one who steps forward to take it on. You will emerge battle-hardened. That principle has guided every role I have taken for decades. The rest of my operating system is written down because leaders owe their teams that clarity.
Communication is key.
Early, often, up, down, sideways. Be honest early and be positive: peel back the onion, then always deliver a recommendation.
Leadership at all levels.
Push responsibility and accountability down in an organization, and employees will rise to meet the challenge. A mental promotion raises your game.
Nothing is impossible.
Find a way to win...with integrity.
Prioritize. Focus. Execute. Deliver.
The 80/20 rule, with relentless focus on execution.
Praise in public, coach in private.
Never put someone in a situation where they lose their dignity.
Practice mental yoga.
Always seek to stretch your mind and never stop learning.
Good enough never is.
We can always get better. Keep moving forward.
Work on your eulogy, not your resume.
A life well lived is one that positively impacts the lives of others.
Media
Forbes: The $1 Trillion Wellness Wave
Jennifer Castenson's May 2026 Forbes feature on the $1 trillion wellness real estate movement quotes Eric on medicine's shift from treatment to prevention and cites his Vital Longevity program as a leading example of wellness-integrated homebuilding.
Prestigious design firm names Eric Lent Chief Revenue Officer
Veteran executive to lead sales, marketing, and client experience as Blue Heron scales its platform into new markets
Vital Longevity Launch Coverage
The March 2026 launch of Vital Longevity, the wellness and longevity program Eric conceived at Blue Heron, drew national coverage across GlobeNewswire, Yahoo Finance, and industry press.
Travel Weekly
Gravity Haus breaks the adventure lifestyle mold in ski and mountain hot spots.
Podcast: It's Not You But Sometimes It Is
"How to Make Your Business More Sophisticated," with host Meg Poag. A conversation on commercial discipline, leadership, and what growing companies get wrong.
Podcast: Innovation Meets Leadership
"The Leader's Journey," with host Natalie Born. On modeling the change you want to see in an organization.
Podcast: Cognia Leader Chat
"Perseverance: Leader Chat with Eric Lent." On leading organizations through their hardest moments and coming out stronger.
Urban Land Institute
Panel speaker on hotel development, premium hospitality, and where the industry goes next.
In Print: Authority Magazine
Two feature interviews: on authenticity in leadership, and on how to create a retail experience that keeps customers coming back for more.
Awards & Honors
AMA Gold Effie. IHG CEO Award, for the $200M Crowne Plaza portfolio transformation. Max Award from the Atlanta Business Chronicle for best innovation in the state of Georgia. Addy from AAF, Golden Marble for best youth marketing campaign in the US. Dean's Lifetime Recognition Award from Towson University, where Eric served as Board Chairman of the College of Business & Economics.