Chairman, CEO, Pacific Life Insurance Co.
WHY: Runs largest OC private firm by revenue: $10.7B, up 13% year-over-year. Companywide workers 3,832, including 2,137 in OC. Steered firm through 2008 crisis; no plans to retire.
RECENT: Expanding into term life insurance. Selling Aviation Capital Group for almost $3B to Tokyo Century. Chairs company foundation, which donated $7M last year, including $4.7M in OC. Look for famed PacLife whale TV ads during football season.
QUOTABLE: “My first full year was ’08. That was a pretty dramatic year for all of financial services. There’s a lot more diversification and risk management. Growth remains important, but it’s secondary to diversification and risk management.”