Ole Peder Bertelsen

Ole Peder Bertelsen (November 30, 1930- July 10, 2018) was a Danish-born oil trader and a London fashion trade entrepreneur. In 1985, he brought Ralph Lauren’s brand to England. He was the son of a horse dealer and was born in the seaport of Esbjerg on the Jutland Peninsula on November 30, 1930.[1][2] He graduated from Copenhagen University with a degree in Economics and joined the Shell oil company where he worked for 15 years.[1] He made his money in oil in the 1980s. Then, in 1982, he was an investment advisor to an oil company that had, as part of its investments, a Colorado ranch. The neighbor of that ranch, Ralph Lauren, wanted to buy the property and, in exchange, Lauren offered his European distribution and his London shop to Bertelsen.[3][4] In the 1980’s, Bertelsen was called “the most powerful fashion entrepreneur” by The London Standard. His company, Aguecheek,[5] had many London boutiques including those for Ungaro, Valentino, Katharine Hamnett, Krizia, Walter Steiger, Giorgio Armani, Tiffany, Luciano Soprani and Comme des Garcons Homme Plu.[4][6] He opened Gallery 28, a Mayfair outlet with many designers' clothes.

He married Prue Hyne in 1960 and they had three sons.[1]