OC 50: APPAREL

Orange County Business Journal, Apr 28-May 4, 2008

JAMES HENRY JANNARD

Chief mad scientist chief visionary

Oakley Inc.

Born in Los Angeles, June 8, 1949

Lives on Spieden Island, Wash.

DAVID SCOTT OLIVET

Chief executive

Oakley Inc.

Born in Cheshire, Conn., April 24, 1962

Lives in Laguna Beach

Big year for Oakley duo.

Founder, former 63% owner Jannard opted to sell sunglasses company to longtime rival Luxottica of Italy for $2.1 billion in November. Pocketed $1.3 billion in sale.

Jannard no longer chairman but still chief mad scientist, chief visionary-his official titles. Plays role in product design. Company runs on cult of Jannard.

Observers say Jannard opted to sell amid changes. He passed reins to Olivet in 2005. Since then, Oakley expanded into fashion glasses, women's clothes, more stores.

Meanwhile, Jannard's side project-Lake Forest-based Red Digital Cinema Camera, a digital movie camera venture-is ramping up. Early models shipped after some initial glitches.

Luxottica committed to Oakley. Some wonder how long Jannard, Olivet will be around. Jannard signed five-year non-compete deal.

Olivet reports to Luxottica Chief Executive Andrea Guerra, who was on hand at Oakley in February for investor conference.

Luxottica, seller of Ray-Ban, upscale glasses looking to Oakley to help bring it to $8.7 billion in 2009 sales, up from $6.8 billion last year.

Company's business showed some signs of slowing in first quarter.

Olivet credited with changes that made Oakley attractive to Luxottica. Companies traded lawsuits earlier in decade.

Former Nike, Gap executive. Oversaw 2006 acquisitions of fashion glasses sellers Oliver Peoples of Los Angeles; Aliso Viejo-based Optical Shop of Aspen International; Idaho's Eye Safety Systems, maker of goggles, other protective gear.

Goals for 2008: double-digit sales growth, more stores, growing women's line, expanding custom-made sunglasses, goggles business.

Before Oakley, was Nike VP overseeing several units: Cole Haan, Converse, Starter, Bauer-Nike Hockey, Costa Mesa's Hurley International. Earlier, was Gap senior VP of real estate, store design, construction. Also did stint at Bain & Co. Has business master's from Stanford, bachelor's from Pomona College.

Born in Connecticut, raised in Colorado. Competitive runner in high school, college. "Avid dabbler" in golf, skiing. Passion for art, photography. Involved with Hosfelt art galleries in San Francisco, New York. Artists Jim Campbell, Michael Light among favorites.

Lives in Mark Singer contemporary house in Laguna with massive kitchen. Lots of art on walls. Calls himself a decent cook. Single.

Jannard rarely grants interviews. Splits time between OC home, Spieden Island, Wash., a getaway he bought in 1997 for around $20 million. University of Southern California dropout. Started selling motorcycle handle grips out of his station wagon in 1975, moved onto goggles, then sunglasses. Company president from 1975 to 1999, chief executive from 1999 to 2005. Company named after his favorite dog breed, Oakley English Setter show dogs.

Photography buff. Red Digital's cameras use Oakley lenses.

Divorced. Seven children. Loves drag racing.

-Jessica Lee

SALLY FRAME KASAKS

Chairman, chief executive

Pacific Sunwear of California Inc.

Born in Detroit, June 26, 1944

Lives in Corona del Mar

Industry veteran busy fixing struggling retailer.

On Pacific Sunwear board for 10 years before stepping in as interim chief executive in 2006. Named permanent leader in May 2007.

Arguably most high-profile female executive in county.

Company runs 944 PacSun stores selling surf-inspired clothes. Closing 153 demo stores selling urban styles. Recently closed handful of One Thousand Steps shoe stores.

Taking company back to roots with focus on PacSun; mall chain selling clothes from local brands including Quiksilver, Billabong USA.

Demo chain worked earlier in decade, slumped in recent years. Four OC stores now closed; rest closing by this week.

Also shuttering Anaheim distribution center, shifting operation to Kansas City area.

Wall Street pleased with focus on PacSun.

Faces slow going for retailers. Weakening economy, high gas, other prices crimping shoppers' spending.

Getting through rough patch by streamlining inventory at stores. Remodeling PacSun stores. Adding more fashionable styles for teen girls.

Retail veteran. Chairman, chief executive of Ann Taylor Stores from 1992 to 1996. President, chief executive of Limited's Abercrombie & Fitch from 1989 to 1992. Chairman, chief executive of Talbots from 1985 to 1988. Director, Children's Place, Crane & Co.

Graduated from American University in Washington, D.C.

As a child, moved to Iran with missionary parents. Likes gardening, spending time with grandchildren. Married, for 20 years. Husband retired.

-Jessica Lee

ROBERT BUCHNER McKNIGHT JR.

Chairman, chief executive, president

Quiksilver Inc.

Born in Pasadena, Aug. 17, 1953

Lives in Laguna Beach (Emerald Bay)

Quitting ski slopes for first love: surfing.

Has hands full trying to sell Rossignol, French snow gear maker bought for $560 million in 2005 that has spurred losses, Wall Street disenchantment.