HEZY SHAKED AND NATE SMITH
CO-FOUNDER/EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, CEO
TILLY’S INC.
WHY: Top executives at Irvine-based youth apparel firm, co-founded by executive chairman Hezy Shaked in 1982 and led by newly minted chief executive Nate Smith. Market cap of $48M as of October.
IN THE NEWS: Tilly’s named Smith as CEO in August, taking the reins from Shaked, 70, who had spent over a year in top role as interim then permanent exec after Ed Thomas’ sudden departure in January 2024. In Q2 report the next month, Shaked said Tilly’s had its first profitable quarter since late 2022.
NOTABLE: On the day of Smith’s appointment, shares leaped as high as 29% to $2.31 during the trading session. Smith was most recently CEO at Marolina Outdoor and before that, he worked at Boardriders as president of its Americas division. He also worked at Oakley for about five years.
QUOTABLE: “We believe we are beginning to see the positive impacts of our efforts to stabilize our business,” Shaked said in September.
