Dennis Hersch is a financial adviser who succeeded Jeffrey Epstein as the manager of Leslie Wexner's personal fortune after Wexner reportedly severed ties with Epstein around 2005, amid the Palm Beach Police Department's investigation into Epstein's sexual abuse of minors. His appointment marked a critical transition in Wexner's financial operations following more than two decades of Epstein's control over Wexner's wealth.

The timing of Hersch's appointment was significant. In March 2005, Palm Beach Police received a report that Epstein sexually abused a 14-year-old girl. During the subsequent investigation and federal case (2005-2008), Wexner severed financial ties with Epstein, and Hersch took over. When Hersch assumed control, he inherited an extraordinarily complex web of financial structures that Epstein had built for Wexner over two decades, including numerous Ohio corporations, trusts, foundations, and real estate holdings.

Unlike Epstein, who cultivated relationships with prominent scientists, academics, and public figures, Hersch has maintained an extremely low public profile. In August 2019, after Epstein's arrest, Wexner released a letter stating: "I would never have guessed that a person I employed more than a decade ago could have caused such pain... I was deceived by Mr. Epstein." Hersch's appointment represents the critical transition after Wexner severed ties with Epstein amid the 2005 investigation. The transition presented significant challenges: disentangling Epstein's extensive control, acquiring institutional knowledge of Wexner's multi-billion-dollar fortune, and managing reputational fallout.

Sources

Media reporting on Wexner-Epstein relationship; Wexner's August 2019 letter; Public records regarding Wexner Foundation.