Pacific Life in Newport Beach plans to celebrate its 150th birthday all year long. The insurance company, which was incorporated on Jan. 2, 1868, in Sacramento, will showcase its “rich history, engage employees, give back to its communities, and illustrate its preparedness for the next 150 years.”
And there’s a lot to tell. It issued its first policy to former California Gov. Leland Stanford, who also served as its first president. The company’s headquarters were destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, which prompted it to move to Los Angeles. It relocated to Newport Beach in 1972 for “a new, modern facility that could also accommodate growth.” The Newport site provided “an up-and-coming community with a good quality of life for employees.”
“We are proud to celebrate 150 years of service, helping hundreds of thousands of individuals and families with their financial needs,” President and Chief Executive Jim Morris said in a statement. “We remain committed to creating innovative products and services that stand the test of time, providing value and financial security for current and future generations.”
This month Pacific Life rebranded its asset management business to Pacific Global Asset Management, which previously consisted of divisions Pacific Asset Management, Cadence Capital Management and Pacific Private Fund Advisors. It named Kevin Byrne chief executive of the new entity. He previously served as senior vice president of finance and risk management in Pacific Life’s Retirement Solutions Division.
Girl Power
The Roxy division of Huntington Beach-based Boardriders Inc. debuted a global marketing campaign that encourages girls to “Make Waves & Move Mountains.”
The surf apparel brand kicked off the effort with a 1-minute brand video featuring brand ambassadors, including World Champion surfers Lisa Andersen, Kelia Moniz and Stephanie Gilmore, 11-year-old skateboarder and surfer Sierra Kerr, Olympic gold medalist Torah Bright and snowboarder Robin Van Gyn.
They take turns declaring, “We seek the movement and we seek change. We’re progressive. Driven. Impatient. Now. Our inertia propels us forward, and we won’t be stopped. Whether it’s wind, waves, snow, streets, or stereotypes, we rock our own vibes without trepidation. Our style flows from real. Purists. Originators. Competitors. Champions.”
Other campaign components will play out on social media, where users can participate by using the #MakeWavesMoveMountains hashtag. Also scheduled is a series of experiential events, part of a 15-stop tour that will include the Coachella music festival and a surf competition in Huntington Beach.
Kia’s Autonomous Dream
Most of us have by now tried to envision a future that includes self-driving vehicles. Some aspects scare us, while others seem to offer the promise of a better life. Irvine-based Kia Motors America Inc. offers its version in the latest video posted on its YouTube channel.
The video features a version of its Niro electric SUV that can take over driving duties while passengers chat, and serve as an independent mode of transportation for people with disabilities. It also registers when children are crossing the street, and of course, can back into a parking spot all by itself.
Generous Genesis
Genesis Motor America in Fountain Valley gave a $500,000 grant to the J. Paul Getty Museum to fund the Genesis-Getty community partnership focusing on education initiatives benefitting Title 1 high school students in Los Angeles.
The grant will be used to “create an interactive learning experience” that provides students “with access to the arts via online platforms” and in their communities.” The automaker says thousands of high school students will participate in the program, “with potentially thousands more joining the experience online.”
“At Genesis, it is our mission to support initiatives and organizations that impact and advance the communities in which we operate,” Genesis General Manager Erwin Raphael said.
