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Industry



JAMES F. ALBAUGH

Senior Vice President, Boeing Co.

President, Boeing Space and Communications Group

Born in Richland, Wash., May 31, 1950

Lives in Long Beach

Boeing’s top gun in OC. Oversees company efforts in launch services, including the Delta family of rockets, Sealaunch and X-vehicles, and on-orbit payload servicing; human space flight and exploration, including the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station; missile defense and space control; and information and communications, which provides intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and battle management capability to government customers, as well as mobile communication service products to commercial users.

His group employs about 14,000 in the county, after operations in Downey were shifted in past year to OC facilities in Huntington Beach, Seal Beach and Anaheim. Boeing now neck-and-neck with Disney as the county’s top employer.

Prior to his current assignment, was president of Boeing Space Transportation, which was absorbed by Boeing Space and Communications. Came to Boeing after a brief stint as president of Rocketdyne Propulsion & Power, a Canoga Park-based unit of Boeing Space Transportation.

Was named to Rocketdyne’s top position in April 1997 after serving as the unit’s vice president of production operations.

Is an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, an elected member of the International Academy of Astronautics, member of the American Astronautical Society, a member of the Air Force Association and the California Business Roundtable. Also sits on the boards of a variety of corporate and charitable organizations.

Albaugh is a Gold-and-Silver Knight of the National Management Association (NMA), and was named NMA’s Executive-of-the-Year in 1999.

Wife, Audrey, no children. Enjoys golf, boating, snow skiing.

, David Orloff


PHILIP JOSEPH CARROLL

Chairman/CEO, Fluor Corp.

Born in New Orleans, Sept. 24, 1937

Lives in Laguna Beach (Smithcliffs)

Longtime Shell Oil exec took over in 1998 as first outsider to lead Fluor Corp., global engineering and construction giant that ranks as third largest OC-based public company by annual revenue ($12 billion, trailing 12 months). Has weathered falling stock price, Asia crisis and low prices for oil and coal. Laid off 5,000 workers. “Nobody ever said I got to pick whether it rains or there is sunshine. You do what you have to do.”

Restructured Fluor from two main units into five. Pushing Fluor toward big user of Internet. Announced a major new venture with IBM to start an online procurement service. “This is a knowledge-based company. It always has been. We will find ways to profitably exploit e-commerce and Internet technologies.”

Has reduced revenue with intent of driving up margins. Revenue for the quarter ending Jan. 31 was $3 billion, down from $3.4 billion the previous year, while earnings were up $1 million, to $52 million. Move from Irvine into new but smaller Aliso Viejo digs completed.

Came to Fluor from Houston after 37 years (with brief interruption) at Shell Oil Co. Reputation at Shell as visionary, Renaissance man. Left Shell because of mandatory 60-year retirement age; Fluor has 65-year-old limit.

Scientist by training: Has bachelor’s in physics from Loyola University in New Orleans and master’s in physics from Tulane. Joined in 1961 as petroleum engineer, steadily climbed ranks through stints in New Orleans, Midland, New York and Los Angeles. Left in 1973 for one year to work in Washington, D.C. as director of the National Industrial Energy Conservation Council.

In 1979 became VP of Public Affairs, nine years later named VP of Administration and in 1993 became CEO and president.

Active in oil industry: director of American Petroleum Institute, the Boise Cascade Corp., the National Urban League, the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering and the Texas Medical Center. Board seats include Tulane University, the American Air Museum in Britain, the Orange County Performing Arts Center, the Los Angeles World Affairs Council and the Points of Light Foundation.

Wife Charlene, three grown children and three grandchildren. Avid reader, photographer and collector of art and wine.

, Peter Brennan


DWIGHT W. DECKER

Chairman/CEO

Conexant Systems Inc.

Born in Brandon, Manitoba, March 18, 1950

Lives in Irvine

The Business Journal’s reigning Businessperson of the Year for leading Conexant to spectacular first year as a public company. Company is OC’s second-largest in terms of market capitalization (second to Broadcom, cross-county rival in one segment of Conexant’s businesses); he boasts that thanks to stock options, company has 250 millionaire employees.

Mild-mannered but fiercely competitive. Former math teacher. Crossed a milestone in January with Conexant’s first anniversary as independent company; since spinning off from Rockwell International Corp. in January 1999, company has had five straight quarters of sales and profit growth. Finished most recent quarter earning $47 million on sales of $501 million.

At recent $12.2 billion, Conexant boasted market share nearly twice that of its former corporate parent. Conexant employs about 7,500 people company-wide.

Has led acquisition strategy that has so far absorbed five smaller companies that specialize in everything from fiber-optics networking to radio-frequency data transmission.

Says he works an average 12 hours a day, seven days a week. Relatively low profile could be raised as company continues to grow, and he transitions from “selective micromanager” to broader strategic role that’s likely to involve more promotion of company’s image and products.

Hopes to broaden his company’s base of PC modem and fax machine chips into a new generation of wireless devices, high-speed networks and digital “infotainment” devices such as Internet-connected video games. Those areas expected to see growth in coming months as businesses and consumers alike begin to crave high-speed connections for their home PCs, handheld computers and home electronics.

Corporate in-fighter. Nearly got fired from Rockwell a decade ago insisting his unit shift away from its bread-and-butter custom chip business to make its own line of modem chips, years before the Internet entered the mainstream. His gambit paid off; he still plays role of corporate prognosticator.

Has come a long way from his rural Canadian upbringing. Bachelor’s in physics and math from McGill University, Montreal, doctorate in applied math from CalTech. Was a math prof at North Carolina State, Raleigh, from 1978 to 1984; took a sabbatical with modem maker TeleBit Corp. in Silicon Valley, fell in love with the corporate life and stayed. Joined Rockwell in 1989 as director of data-modem products engineering. Made VP and GM of Digital Communications Division in 1993; became president of Rockwell Semiconductor Systems in 1995.

Another new project: marriage. A few months after last year’s IPO, got married.

,Ken Spencer Brown


H.K. DESAI

Chairman/President/CEO

QLogic Corp.

Born in Abrama, Gujarat (India), March 13, 1946

Lives in Laguna Niguel

And he was only supposed to be filling in. Hired in 1995 as QLogic’s interim CEO, has left a clear mark on the company as it transitions from awkward beginnings to a mode of explosive growth. Considers himself more engineer than executive.

Has overseen Cinderella stock performance by QLogic shares ballooned more than 1,000% between last May and March; even after recent Wall Street reality check, there’s nothing mediocre about 300% net gain in last 12 months. And during that time, company has taken leadership role in burgeoning fibre-channel market, the high-speed connectivity technology behind such new-economy necessities as storage-area networks and network-attached storage.

Company sales grew 44% last year, to $81.4 million, while earnings nearly doubled, to $25.7 million. Recent market cap was $5.4 billion, fourth highest among OC public companies.

Guided his company out of its adolescence with new 165,000-square-foot headquarters in Aliso Viejo and prestigious listing on the Nasdaq 100 index; moves underscore company’s break from Emulex Corp., which spun off QLogic in 1994 and is now a competitor. With Emulex, QLogic has helped OC become a powerhouse in fibre-channel. Fibre-channel host-bus adapters, the market in which both companies shine, is expected to grow from about $670 million to more than $4 billion over next three years.

Master’s degree in electrical engineering from UC Berkeley. Was an engineering manager at Unisys for 10 years before joining QLogic in 1990. Left in spring of 1995 to become a VP with Western Digital Corp., but lured back to QLogic a few months later to fill in after the abrupt departure of then-CEO Mel Gable. Post made permanent in January 1996.

Married, two teenage children. Likes skiing and tennis.


ROBERT E. GRAY

Co-founder/Chairman/CEO

St. John Knits International

Born in Minneapolis, Oct. 14, 1925


MARIE ST. JOHN GRAY

Co-founder/Secretary/Chief Designer

Born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, June 24, 1936

Both live in Newport Coast


KELLY A. GRAY

President, St. John Knits International

Born in Santa Monica, Sept. 27, 1966

Lives in Newport Coast

OC’s first family of fashion is once again a more private one, too. The $520 million reorganization merger financed by New York-based Vestar Capital Partners, completed in July 1999, kept Grays in management control.

Family owns 15%, Vestar 78%; 7% held by former public shareholders who took stock in the new entity instead of the cash buyout.

Irvine-based company sells principally under St. John, Griffith & Gray and Marie Gray trade names. Sophisticated fashions are found in upscale stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom. Retail division operates 20 boutiques, 10 outlet stores and sells merchandise in 20 countries. Operates three St. John Home furnishing stores.

Six product lines: knitwear, sport, Griffith & Gray, shoes, accessories and fragrance. Makes 90% of its products in-house.

Revenue for the fiscal year ending Oct. 31 was up 7% to $300.3 million. Net income fell 56% to $14.7 million, partly caused by merger and litigation expenses. Net sales for the first quarter ending Jan. 30 were $79.5 million, up 8% from same period last year. Earnings rose 50% to $14.2 million.

Fashion model and “Queen for a Day” TV show hostess Marie St. John founded St. John Knits in 1962 in the San Fernando Valley; fiance Robert (a USC grad) provided marketing help. The Grays moved company to OC in 1973.

In 1989, sold an 83.5% stake to Escada AG, which cashed out in the 1993 IPO. In 1997, St. John expanded Irvine facility, opened a plant in Tijuana in 1998.

Kelly, the company’s signature model, has been president since 1996.

, Sherri Cruz


MARK HUTCHINS

Vice President, Ford Motor Co.

President, Lincoln Mercury

Born in Needham, Mass. June 18, 1945

Lives in Newport Beach


VICTOR H. DOOLAN

Executive Director, North America, Marketing & Distribution Strategy, Premier Automotive Group

Born in Kinglangey, England Nov. 7, 1940

Hutchins runs “Ford Motor West” in Irvine, overseeing operations for Lincoln Mercury. Has 17 offices and 375 employees under him, selling more than 600,000 cars in 1999. Reports to two group VPs in Dearborn, Mich., Wolfgang Reitzle, group vice president of the Premier Auto Group and to Bob Rewey, the group VP for global consumer services and North America.

A company man, left behind a downtown Detroit skyscraper for two-story complex in Irvine Spectrum with conference rooms named after Henry Ford, Edsel Ford, Albert Einstein and John Wayne.

Joined company in 1965. Earliest management assignments were in Lincoln Mercury’s Washington, D.C. and Boston district sales offices. Between 1976 and 1981, was general field manager in the Memphis district, assistant sales manager in Jacksonville and district sales manager in Buffalo. Then progressed through management positions in Atlanta and Detroit; named the Detroit division’s central region sales manager in 1987. Bachelor’s degree in business administration from Northeastern University in Mass., master’s degree in business from American University in Washington, D.C.

Wife Peggy, four children.

Doolan is responsible for the administrative and organizational duties of the Premier Auto Group, soon to include Land Rover, and charged with the task to merge the nameplates under one administrative umbrella. Moved to that spot in July from president of BMW of North America. He reports to Reitzle.

Doolan also was president of BMW Canada and vice president of BMW South Africa.

Doolan graduated from Watford College in the United Kingdom and has received awards for his philanthropy, including the 1998 Marjorie Guthrie Leadership Award and the 1996 Automotive Industry “Good Scout” award from the New York Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Wife Ann.

,David Orloff


JIM JANNARD

Founder/Chairman/CEO, Oakley Inc.

Born in California

Age 50

Lives in Washington state

Reclusive hippie throwback and tough-dealing entrepreneur who runs trendy, image-conscious sunglasses maker.

Jannard reasserted his control over Foothill Ranch operations last year after former Gatorade executive Bill Schmidt resigned just a few months after becoming CEO. Jannard moving closer to the HQ, with a home under way in Newport Coast. Colin Baden, named president when Schmidt came aboard, remains No. 2.

Wall Street cool to Oakley’s foray into spacey athletic footwear, a money loser to date, but company predicts the line will become profitable during the second half of this year. New footwear line hits stores in July.

Company branched out into timepieces and apparel in 1999; also opened a signature “O” store at Irvine Spectrum Center, but has no plans to create a retail chain. In December, the company instituted a $20 million stock repurchase program.

Stock was recently at the 11 level, a doubling since February but well below the 1996 high mark of 25.

Sales rose 11% to $257.9 million in 1999, but net income fell 18% to $19.8 million. Revenues reflect strong sales of Fives, increased M Frame sales and sales of new products. Earnings were offset by the operating expenses for the new direct distribution operations in Canada and Japan.

First quarter net income was $5.5 million, up 293% year-to-year, sales were up 30% to $63.1 million

Celebrities and high-profile athletes often photographed wearing Oakley’s chic shades; Michael Jordan is a director. Oakley distributes in more than 70 countries. Jannard says the “Oakley brand stands for mind-blasting creativity and gutsy, even at times deviant, behavior,” staunchly battles alleged knockoffs in the courts.

Jannard began in 1975 by peddling motorcycle handle grips from his station wagon, moved on to goggles and then sunglasses. Took company public in 1995. Since 1996, has foregone salary or bonus while buying back some stock. Has 60.7% stake in the company. Married, seven children.

, Susan Schaben


CAMILLE JAYNE

Chairman/CEO, Universal Electronics Inc.

Born in Detroit, Mich., May 15, 1952

A female CEO in an industry still dominated by men, is steering the remote-control device maker into the brave new world of digital television.

Company already a dominant player in the market for remote controls used for set-top boxes, and jumping head first into new markets for digitally enabled televisions and consumer electronics. UEI signed a deal to make controls for digital video recorder ReplayTV, patented multi-function key sequencing (allowing a single button click to set the television to a certain channel while simultaneously setting the VCR to record) and announced a joint venture with Logitech to develop game controls for interactive television.

The company’s customer roster includes some of the best-known companies in the industry, including General Instruments, Philips, Sony, Thomson/RCA, Kenwood, Media One, Cox Communications, Microsoft, Radio Shack, On Command and Replay TV. Most digital cable subscribers use controls that have UEI somewhere inside.

Company grew from earnings of $5.6 million on sales of $96.1 million in 1998 to $7.7 million on sales of $105.1 million last year.

Considers herself a hands-on manager but credits growth to a strong management team. Got her television experience as senior vice president at cable provider Telecommunications Inc., where she helped launch Internet and digital cable service. Before that, was senior director of new ventures for phone company Ameritech, where she pioneered development work for television service over telephone lines and screen phones.

Graduated with distinction from Stanford University with a BA and Master’s in product design. MBA from University of Michigan. Sits on board for VBits Technology and is a member of “Elite Who’s Who of Female Executives.” Is an avid tennis player.

, Ken Spencer Brown


MATTHEW MASSENGILL

President/CEO

Western Digital Corp.

Born in Placentia in 1962

New boss four months into the tough job of trying to improve Western Digital’s fortunes in the volatile hard-drive business. Signs of an improving environment, but WD still struggling: company posted a narrowed year-to-year loss of $71 million in the fiscal quarter ending March 31, on a 23% drop in sales to $517 million. For first nine months of the fiscal year, company lost $359 million on a 28% drop in sales, to $1.48 billion.

Massengill replaces tech bigwig Chuck Haggerty, who announced retirement last year in the wake of declining financials; Haggerty, who earlier had revived the company, is set to leave chairman’s post by June.

Although demand for storage has never been higher, thanks to the flood of information created by e-commerce and data mining applications, component makers such as WD have faced several years of intense competition and cutthroat pricing. At around 7 last week, company’s stock had almost doubled for the year but was still way below its October 1997 high of 53.

WD employs about 9,000 company-wide, down 25% year-to-year; OC employment is at about 700.

Massengill began his career at Western Digital in 1985 as a product engineer. Held various engineering, marketing positions and was named vice president of marketing for the personal storage division in 1994. Three years later was named senior vice president and general manager of the enterprise storage group, which will likely become a major source of growth as company focuses on Internet-related businesses.

In June 1999, was appointed executive vice president, worldwide operations and geographies. Four months later took over as chief operating officer.

Engineering degree from Purdue University in 1983; in 1988 received Purdue’s Outstanding Engineering Alumni award. Married.

,Ken Spencer Brown


ROBERT B. MCKNIGHT Jr.

Chairman/CEO, Quiksilver Inc.

Born in Pasadena, Aug. 17, 1953

Lives in Emerald Bay

An OC surfwear veteran who continues to grow the franchise. Boardriders Club retail stores were added in Boston, Miami last year, and plans this year to open units in Hollywood, Charleston, Costa Mesa and Seattle.

Sales grew 40.4% to $443.7 million in fiscal 1999 and earnings increased 48% to $26.6 million. First quarter results, sales were up 16.3% year-to-year to $99.9 million, earnings up 21.6% to $4.1 million.

Last summer, moved the headquarters from conventional Costa Mesa facilities into a larger flashy setup in Surf City USA, aka Huntington Beach.

Company a pioneer in its business, with a knack for retaining its cutting-edge appeal and expanding it into extreme-sports markets. Quiksilver designs and makes surfwear, extreme sportswear, casual wear and snow apparel, sold in surf shops, specialty and department stores worldwide; now 87 Boardriders Clubs in the U.S., Western Europe, Mexico, too.

Plans in works for new sportswear line for women. Company recently entered the skateboard market with its acquisition of San Clemente apparel maker Hawk Designs Inc.; former owner, skateboard icon Tony Hawk stays on as spokesperson.

Quiksilver founded in 1969 by Australian surfers Alan Green and John Law. Quiksilver USA founded in 1976 by McKnight and Jeff Hakman as men’s apparel company, has since added juniors, middle-aged surfers, boys, girls, toddlers; a winter sports division,even manufactures equipment. Marketing efforts geared toward sponsorship of surfing events and exposure in surfing mags, apparel trade pubs and pubs such as Spin and Rolling Stone. Popular labels include Quiksilver, Quiksilver Roxy, Raisins, Radio Fiji, Leilani, Que, Lib Tech, Gnu, Arcane and Bent Metal.

McKnight has 5% stake (stock and options) in company recently worth about $21.5 million; earned $1.6 million in salary and bonus for fiscal 1999.

McKnight a surfer, sportsman. Held a millennium bash on remote surfer’s paradise of Tavarua Island. Is keynote speaker at this year’s industry Surf Summit in Cabo San Lucas.

Bachelor’s in business administration from USC. Director of Southern California Entrepreneurship Academy, Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (also its first president), Orange County Marine Institute.

Wife Annette, three children. Enjoys surfing, snowboarding, tennis, golf, softball, volleyball, diving.

,Susan Schaben


MICHAEL A. MUSSALLEM

Edwards Lifesciences Corp.

Born in Gary, Ind., Nov. 21, 1952

Lives on Balboa Island

A veteran of the biomedical device industry, he’s running the same business, but now under a new banner and with a bigger job title. Led the April 3 spin-off of Edward Lifesciences from Chicago area-based Baxter International.

Edwards a major medical instrument company, with sales of $800 million in 1999. Some 35% of sales generated outside of the U.S. Formerly Baxter’s CardioVascular unit, Edwards does business in 80 countries and has manufacturing operations in North America, Japan (through a joint venture with Baxter), Europe and Latin America. Employs 5,000 worldwide, 1,400 of them in OC.

Joined Baxter in 1979, worked at Union Carbide before that. Named general manager, Access Products, and in 1986, was promoted to vice president, product development for Parenterals. Was designated general manager, Pharmaceuticals Division in 1987, and president of the Bentley Division in 1988. Was named president of Baxter’s Critical Care Division in 1993 and group vice president of Baxter’s Surgical Group in 1994. Responsible for worldwide operations of the CardioVascular business since 1995 and the biopharmaceuticals business since 1998. From 1996 to 1998, served as chairman of Baxter’s Asia-Pacific Board, which coordinated regional initiatives.

Director of the California Health Care Institute and the Medical Technology Leadership Forum.

Wife of 23 years, Linda. The couple has no children. Enjoys jogging, tennis. Brother with Down’s syndrome created interest in projects for those with special needs.

, Alexandra Lin


HENRY NICHOLAS III

Co-chairman/CEO/President

Broadcom Corp.

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Oct. 8, 1959

Lives in Laguna Hills


HENRY SAMUELI

Co-chairman/VP of R & D;/Chief Technology Officer

Born in Buffalo, N.Y., Sept. 20, 1954

Lives in Newport Beach (Corona del Mar)

Call it a three-peat. The two Henrys extend their appearance in the OC 50 at the helm Of OC’s most highly valued public company, boasting a market cap of more than $30 billion. Each owns about 17%, a combined stake of more than $10 billion at recent check.

Company more than doubled revenue in 1999, to $518.2 million, profits rose 130%, to $83.3 million. Trailing 12-month sales of $613.2 million and profit of $109.3 million.

Despite recent stock volatility, continued growth appears almost inevitable, thanks to several acquisitions over last year, including BlueSteel Networks Inc., Digital Furnace Corp., Stellar Semiconductor Inc., AltoCom Inc., and HotHaus Technologies Inc. That’s in addition to joint ventures with others, including a high-speed wireless networking standard with Cisco Systems Inc., a home networking standard with Lucent Technologies Inc., another home-networking system with Intel Corp., next-generation set-top boxes with Next Level Communications Inc. and a broadband content company (Broadband Interactive Group.) with Gotcha International.

Broadcom designs chips used in a variety of high-speed networking devices from set-top boxes for televisions to cable modems to wireless data transmission. It competes with a host of companies hoping to cash in on the burgeoning demand for high-speed network connectivity.

Flamboyant, strident, hard-driving Nicholas (“Nick”), is athletic 6′ 6”; partial to corporate fast lane with penchant for skiing, scuba diving, exotic cars. Former Air Force Academy student. Was Samueli’s first Ph.D. student at UCLA before turning business partner. Married with three young children.

Samueli, married with three children of his own, plays nurturer to Nicholas’ flogger. Donated $50 million to UC’s Irvine and Los Angeles campuses, which renamed their engineering schools after him. UCI med school also a beneficiary.

Before starting Broadcom, pair worked together at TRW designing ultra-fast integrated circuits for the military, then helped start PairGain Technologies of Tustin.

Both founders have donated millions to an assortment of non-profit causes, including the rowing team at UCI, Temple Beth El of Southern Orange County, the OC Performing Arts Center and South Coast Repertory.


MILAN PANIC

Chairman/CEO, ICN Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, Dec. 20, 1929

Lives in Newport Beach

Now 70, still combative and showing no sign of letting go of the global pharmaceutical firm he founded 40 years ago with $200. “What are you talking about, retire? People are not measured by age, they are measured by performance. I’m very proud of my performance.”

His global reach includes political conflicts. Former Yugoslavian PM, he lost a controversial election to Slobodan Milosevic for presidency of Serbia in 1992; ICN had plant in Yugoslavia seized last year, leading to $235 million writeoff. A Friend of Bill, but strongly opposed Clinton’s Serbian bombing campaign.

Company’s fourth-quarter revenue was a record $212.5 million; net income, of $38.4 million, was triple a year earlier, excluding troubled Yugoslav interests. For the full year, revenue was $747 million, down from $838 million in 1998 because of the shuttered Yugoslav operations. Net income improved to $119 million, from $7 million (exclusive of Yugoslavia) a year earlier. He contends ICN’s market cap should be twice its current $2 billion.

Disgruntled investors tried to oust him last September, garnering 37% of the vote. Dismisses his critics: “Why do I take abuse from people who know nothing about business except picking stocks?”

Still wrangling with the SEC over allegation of withholding information in 1994 about FDA rejection of his company’s drug ribavirin. Agency seeks $500,000 fine and bar on Panic ever serving again as a public company director. Also, a grand jury investigating insider trading and other allegations. Suggests the SEC has little to show for its years of hounding him. Has settled six sexual harassment suits.

Company has strong presence in North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe; has largest private market share in Russia,ICN sells 20% of the pills there.

More bullish than analysts, Panic predicts $170 million royalty stream this year from Rebetol (ribavirin), which is used in combination with Schering-Plough’s Intron A as the standard for Hepatitis C treatment; said he hopes to have Ribavirin II on the market by 2003, with a potential billion dollars in sales. Is looking at another seven drugs in the pipeline. Recently brought onboard as senior VP for R & D;, Dr. Johnson Lau, who was lead scientist on hepatitis for Schering-Plough.

Nazi-resistance fighter at age 14; defected to West during bicycle race. Attended University of Belgrade, University of Heidelberg, USC. Awarded Ellis Island Medal of Honor, 1986. Major Democratic supporter. Wife Sally. Owns Pasadena mansion built by Huntington family. Enjoys bicycling, skiing, swimming, tennis, flying, art.


DAVID E.I. PYOTT

Allergan Inc.

Born in London, Oct. 13, 1953

Lives in Coto de Caza

Nicknamed “The Velvet Hammer”,soft-spoken but with a commanding presence; industry veteran and internationalist. Took over top position at the company in January 1998. In 1998 and 1999, company’s stock rose three-fold. Sales hit $1.4 billion in 1999. Allergan has 1,800 OC employees, 6,000 overall.

Irvine-based Allergan a global maker and marketer of skincare, eyecare products. Major moneymaker is Botox, used to treat shaking eyelids, neck and shoulder muscular disorders, but most popular off-label as a wrinkle remover; may also prove good for migraines. Glaucoma treatment Alphagan another big seller. Recently introduced Tazorac, a gel to treat psoriasis and a foldable intraoccular lens.

Company chairman is Genentech founder Herbert Boyer, who got the title at same time Pyott became CEO, upon retirement of William E. Shepherd.

Pyott’s plans through 2001: cut 550 jobs, close four plants (one to go) and outsource. But expanding in brainpower: Plans to hire 300 additional researchers in Irvine by 2003.

Joined Sandoz, which later became Novartis, in 1980 working in operational planning and international product management, also served as marketing manager in Malaysia/Singapore, general manager in Austria and Spain, and then president and CEO of Sandoz Nutrition Corp. in the U.S. In 1995, appointed Head of the Sandoz Nutrition Sector. Came to Allergan from Swiss giant Novartis AG, where he was head of the nutrition division.

Holds a diploma in German and European Law from Europa Instituut at the University of Amsterdam, a master’s degree from the University of Edinburgh and an MBA from London Business School. Raised in Scotland and India. Speaks four languages fluently: English, Spanish, German, French.

Member of the board of directors of PhRMA, director of the California Healthcare Institute, on the Executive Advisory Council for the UCI School of Management, member of the UCI Executive Roundtable.

Enjoys tennis. Married with four children.


THEODORE J. SMITH

Chairman, FileNet Corp.

Born in Washington, D.C., Nov. 29, 1929

Lives in Laguna Beach


LEE D. ROBERTS

President/CEO, FileNet Corp.

Born in Southampton, England, Jan. 8, 1953

Lives in Irvine

Duo runs Orange County’s largest software employer (775 workers in OC, 1,600 worldwide). Maker of document-management software, and despite tech doldrums on Wall Street, company’s stock has enjoyed a turnaround, jumping from just about $8 per share a year ago to more than $28 per share last week.

Launched a major e-commerce initiative in 1999, a move that appears to have boosted earnings even as other enterprise computer software companies reported slowdowns attributed to Y2K fears. Revenue grew slightly from $310.2 million in fiscal year 1998 to $347.1 million, but profits soared from about $1 million to $19.7 million during the same period.

Local customers include Bank of America, SmithKleinBeecham, Ingram Micro and Fluor.

Smith founded FileNet in 1982. Before that was president/CEO of Basic Four 1975 to 1981, growing earnings from $40 million to $220 million. Wife Janice, two grown children. Enjoys boating, skiing.

Roberts joined FileNet as president/COO in 1997 after 20 years in a variety of sales, marketing, product management and general management roles at IBM. Last position was GM/VP of IBM’s multi-billion dollar (annual sales) networking division.

Roberts has an MBA from the University of California, Riverside and two bachelor’s degrees from California State University, San Bernardino. Two daughters. An avid skier, mountain climber and triathlete, has competed in Hawaii’s Ironman and more than 20 marathons. Has vowed to climb Everest by 2002.


JOHN TU

President, Kingston Technology Corp.

Born in Chongquing, China, Aug. 21, 1941

Lives in Palos Verdes


DAVID SUN

Vice President, Kingston Technology Corp.

Born in Tai-Chung, Taiwan, Oct. 12, 1951

Dynamic duo with a knack for timing, nice guys to boot. Made national headlines in 1997 by handing out $100 million in bonuses to workers after selling 80% of Kingston to Japan’s Softbank Corp. Repurchased Kingston last year (“Kingston is a family, and you don’t walk away from your family,” says Tu) for fraction of what Softbank paid; now enjoying a turnaround in the memory market, thanks in part to new business lines such as high-speed networking and digital consumer electronics.

More than $1 billion in annual sales. Employs 600-plus locally, 1,000 worldwide. In terms of employees, was OC’s 11th-largest foreign-owned company and No. 5 computer hardware firm last year. Thanks to the repurchase, once again easily OC’s largest minority-owned company in terms of sales.

Company sells to “Corporate 1,000.” Also makes networking, storage, processor upgrades but memory still 90% of sales. Recently announced a spin-off of storage products division (StorCase). Founders have investments in Personable.com, an application service provider that specializes in hosting Microsoft Office 2000 applications, PingPong.com, an in-progress Internet guide and Payton, a mysterious company listing job openings,but no further details,on Kingston’s web site.

Company facing lawsuit from Sun Microsystems, which claims exclusive rights to basic architecture in memory module technology. David Sun has challenged Sun CEO Scott McNealy to a golf game to settle the issue.

In early ’80s, duo founded Camintonn in garage; lugged around memory chips in back seat of their cars. Became division VPs when AST Research bought Camintonn. Left to start Kingston in 1987.

Corporate yin and yang: Tu soft-spoken public face, Sun boisterous operations man. Seldom wear ties, sit in cubicles with other employees.

Both have electrical engineering degrees, Tu from Technische Hochschule Darmstadt in Germany, Sun from Taiwan’s Ta-Tung Institute of Technology. Tu moved to U.S. in 1972, Sun emigrated in 1977.

Tu’s wife Mary; two children. Sun’s wife Diana, two children. Tu plays drums, movie buff; Sun an avid golfer.

,Ken Spencer Brown


JOHN P. WAREHAM

Chairman/President/CEO, Beckman Coulter Inc.

Born in Clinton, Iowa, Aug. 12, 1941

Lives in Orange

Oversees company with well-established reputation, international reach and big OC presence: Beckman Coulter employs more than 9,500 people worldwide, 2,190 here. 1999 sales $1.8 billion up 6% from previous year. About half of sales offshore; has put more than 125,000 instrument systems in 130 countries.

Wareham was named CEO September 1998, chairman the following February, succeeding longtime chief Louis T. Rosso, who retired. Bringing company safely beyond 1997 post-merger woes stemming from $1 billion acquisition of Miami-based Coulter Corp. ’99 sales were up 5%, while net income tripled to $106 million.

Company is biomed pioneer, founded in 1935; a maker of centrifuges for universities and research labs, DNA and protein systems for drug and biotechnology companies, diagnostic systems for body fluid, blood and cell analysis used in hospitals, clinical laboratories and doctors’ offices.

Recent scores: FDA cleared company’s Access Ostase blood as an aid in the management of osteoporosis and Paget’s disease and approved its Access Hybritech PSA and Access Hybritech free PSA blood tests as an aid in the detection of prostate cancer. Company concluded collaboration deal with Sunnyvale-based Amersham Pharmacia Biotech covering use of Beckman Coulter’s capillary electrophoresis technology for DNA sequencing and future development activities.

Wareham began career as a pharmacist. Fifteen years with SmithKline as operations research analyst and other posts, including director of business planning at SmithKline & French Laboratories-Worldwide and president of Norden Laboratories. Joined Beckman in 1984 as VP of the diagnostics systems group, in 1993 promoted to president and COO.

Has a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., MBA from Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. Chairman of the Health Industry Manufacturers Association, on the advisory board for the John Henry Foundation, member of the Center for Corporate Innovation in Los Angeles.

Married, two grown children.

, Alexandra Lin


THOMAS C.K. YUEN

Chairman/CEO SRS Labs Inc.

Owner/president, Atlantis Holding Co.

Born in Shanghai, China, Sept. 10, 1951

Co-founder of AST, the Irvine computer maker of the 1990s, Yuen now riding the broadband wave into the 2000s.

Former Hughes engineer an investor and major presence in SRS since 1994. Decided to take over day-to-day authority in February 1999, after abrupt departure of Tom Parkinson, second president to leave in less than a year. “I don’t want to be distracted bringing in a new guy,” said Yuen, who promptly began expanding company’s reach into new products, such as low-cost home theater systems, wireless technology and emerging Internet multimedia market. Scored a $7 million investment from Microsoft Corp., which will use SRS technology in new versions of its multimedia software.

SRS, founded on audio patents acquired from Hughes, develops sound-processing methods that boost the sound quality of even the tiniest of speakers, allowing big-budget sound from moderately priced consumer electronics such as VCRs and portable stereo systems. Other technology improves sound on everything from voice-recognition products to cell phones. Customers include Sony, Pioneer, Kenwood, Hitachi, Sharp, RCA.

Company betting big on technology for broadband Internet content, with a broadcasting site called SRSWOWcast that features original music and animation. Also seeking to license SRS’ sound-enhancement technology to other Internet broadcasters, and is launching an Asia-focused version of the site.

Yuen hopes to make SRS a technology incubator of sorts, spinning out promising technology into separate companies. 1998’s $17.6 million loss narrowed to $1.7 million in 1999. $38.5 million in sales for the trailing 12 months. After languishing at the $2 to $3 range for more than a year, stock rose to $35 on March 10, has since fallen to around $15.

Yuen owns 26% percent of company. Says he expects big payoff when SRS subsidiary Valence Technology Inc. goes public in China, with SRS keeping 75% of Valence.

Graduated from UC Irvine, has received numerous honors since, including the UCI Medal, Engineering Alumnus Award, Distinguished Alumnus Award and Director of the Year by OC Forum of Corporate Directors. Is an honorary professor at China Nationality University in Beijing.

Born in Shanghai, moved to Hong Hong at age 1, came to U.S. in 1970.

Wife Misa, two teenage daughters. Enjoys photography.

, Ken Spencer Brown

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