Oakley Inc. in Foothill Ranch has eliminated its “office of the CEO” and laid off more than 150 workers as part of an “integration process” with Italy-based parent Luxottica Group S.p.A.
Former Chief Executive Colin Baden has taken on the new role of chief innovation and product officer. He’s now responsible for leading optics product innovation, design, line planning, research and development, and military products. He reports to Massimo Vian, Luxottica’s chief executive of product and operations.
Luxottica paid $2.1 billion for Oakley in 2007.
Other positions the eyewear and apparel manufacturer eliminated were in “global sales, global wholesale, global retail, and global product development for Oakley,” Vian said during Luxottica’s earnings call today. The total count was about 400 filled and vacant posts worldwide.
That includes 159 worker layoffs in Orange County, according to filings with the state Employment Development Department.
