Greg Weaver, who headed Anaheim-based Pacific Sunwear of California Inc. during its heady growth years, plans to leave the retailer for good as of April 1.
For the past year, Weaver has served as Pacific Sunwear’s executive chairman, helping to launch the company’s third chain of stores, One Thousand Steps.
The shoe chain plans to open its first stores in April.
“I became executive chairman for a limited time to provide a period of transition and to work on new business development,” Weaver said. “Now that our One Thousand Steps concept is ready to launch, this is the appropriate time for me to step down.”
Weaver joined Pacific Sunwear in 1987 and became chief executive in 1995. By the time Weaver passed the chief executive’s reins in 2005, Pacific Sunwear counted nearly 1,000 stores.
The company sells surfwear at its dominant PacSun chain and urban styles at its d.e.m.o. stores.
In an earlier interview, Weaver said he wanted to step back from his hectic job, which involved extensive traveling to malls across the country.
Weaver, 52, said he earlier set a goal to retire around age 50.
Current Chief Executive Seth Johnson, a former Abercrombie & Fitch Co. executive, was hand picked by Weaver as his replacement in 2004.
