COLIN BADEN
Chief Executive
Oakley Inc., Foothill Ranch
Born in Concord, Mass.
Age: 51
Lives in Irvine
WHY: Runs OC’s largest apparel company, star for parent Lux-ottica SpA of Italy. Oakley saw double-digit growth last year, driven by optical sales. Lux-ottica Chief Exe-cutive Andrea Guerra called the company out for its performance during the recently ended quarter, along with Luxotti-ca’s Ray-Ban brand, saying the two “continued to perform extremely well, retaining their titles as captains in the industry.”
HOW: Successful sports marketing gets Oakley frames, other products on top athletes. Strategy has been key to company’s growth, maintaining brand cache. Com-pany combines technology, performance with style for its sunglasses, goggles. Baden became Oakley consultant in 1993 after working with Oak-ley founder Jim Jannard, a fellow OC 50er, on the de-sign of his Washing-ton state home. Hired as Oakley design di-rector in 1996, named president in 1999 and chief executive 10 years later.
RECENT: Launched new marketing for women’s activewear line. Opened first stand-alone stadium store at Angel Stadium last month, complete with custom eye-bar delivery to customers’ seats. Store’s shelves also carry MLB-licensed Angels apparel, accessories.
PERSONAL: Baden serves as board president of veterans service organization Infinite Hero Foundation. Enjoys traveling with family—wife, Laura, and two sons—and any ocean activity. Received undergrad degree from University of Washington, graduate degree from University of Arizona.
—Kari Hamanaka
ROBERT B. MCKNIGHT JR.
Executive chair, founder
Quiksilver Inc., Huntington Beach
Born in Pasadena
Age: 59
Lives in Laguna Beach (Emerald Bay)
WHY: Founded action-sports apparel titan that helped to shape an industry. Took Quiksilver from startup selling swim trunks to multibranded apparel maker and retailer with more than $2 billion in revenue.
HOW: Launched Quiksilver in 1976 with fellow surfer Jeff Hakman. Company went public 10 years later. Tapped growing female surfwear market with debut of Roxy brand in 1990. Now one of the company’s largest brands. Broke into retail with first concept store, Quiksilver Boardriders Club, in 1992. Expand-ed brand portfolio with 2003 purchase of DC Shoes, now one of the company’s top-selling lines. Company surpassed $1 billion sales mark the following year. Found-ed Quiksilver Foundation in 2004.
RECENT: Stepped down from chief executive post in January to be executive chairman. Com-pany brought in former Nike, Dis-ney exec Andy Mooney to take top spot. Com-pany has since announced a number of global ex-ecutive hires, shuttered some brands. Continues focus on growing core brands Quiksil-ver, Roxy and DC Shoes.
PERSONAL: Fan of surfing, snowboarding, tennis, golf, softball, volleyball, diving. Serves on board of Ocean Institute. Trustee of Otis College of Art and Design. Huntington Beach Surfer’s Hall of Fame induction in 2005. Earned bachelor’s degree in business from University of Southern California. Wife, Annette, three kids.
—Kari Hamanaka
PAUL R. NAUDÉ
Americas president, Billabong USA
Executive director, Billabong International Ltd.
Born in Durban, South Africa
Age: 57
Lives in Laguna Beach
WHY: Leads one of OC’s largest action-sports apparel, retail companies with portfolio of global brands.
HOW: Got start in surf industry, fixing surfboards in the 1970s. Co-owned a surfboard maker that had three stores in South Africa.
Headed surf ap-parel brand Got-cha’s South Af-rican business be-fore moving to U.S. in 1992 after being named Gotcha executive vice president.
Took over Billabong’s U.S. operations in 1998. Credited with building Billabong into multibrand company it is today. New brands added through series of key buys beginning in 2001 with purchase of sunglasses, goggles maker VonZipper USA, followed up a few months later with Element.
RECENT: Billabong in midst of a turnaround with moves to tighten operations, shutter stores while seeking growth of Element, RVCA and Dakine. Made big waves last year when Naudé-led consortium, including New York private equity firm Sycamore Partners, made offer to buy Billabong. Group’s initial $550.8 million bid matched by VF Corp. and Palo Alto private equity firm Altamont Capital. Naudé-led group entered exclusive talks with company earlier this year with revised $299 million offer.
PERSONAL: Serves on senior advisory board of Aliso Viejo-based Surf Industry Manufacturers Association. SIMA Envi-ronmental Fund board of directors president. Founder of Rhino Alive Rhino Conser-vation Foundation. Graduated high school in Durban, South Africa. 1976 South Africa surfing champion. Enjoys surfing, snowboarding, photography. Wife, Debbie, son, daughter.
—Kari Hamanaka
NAMELY NOTABLE:
Robert “Bob” Hurley
Founder, chief executive, chairman of Costa Mesa-based Hurley International LLC, a unit of Nike Inc.
Gary Schoenfeld
Boss of Pacific Sunwear of California Inc. in Anaheim, largest action-sports retailer, key account for many local brands.
Pierre-André Senizergues
Former pro skater heads Lake Forest-based Sole Technology Inc., action-sports footwear and apparel lines etnies, Emerica, Altamont and ThirtyTwo.
Hezy Shaked
Founder of action-sports retailer Tilly’s Inc. in Irvine.
Richard Woolcott
Cofounder, executive chair of Costa Mesa-based Volcom Inc.
