OC 50: TECHNOLOGY

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

Emulex Corp.

Born in Seattle, Jan. 23, 1945

Lives in Coto de Caza

JAMES M. McCLUNEY

Chief executive, president

Emulex Corp.

Born Glasgow, Scotland, June 1951

Lives in Laguna Niguel

McCluney making good on bid to diversify company. Emulex's offerings now include routers, switches, controllers, software along with mainstay host bus adapters for data networks.

Seeing some market share gains for host bus adapters. Landed more than a dozen design wins, two with heavyweights Sun Microsystems, IBM.

Rival of Aliso Viejo's QLogic.

Folino, arguably county's most engaged executive in cultural, educational, political activities, passed reins in 2006 in planned transition.

McCluney was president, chief operating officer since 2003. Worked with Folino on transition since coming aboard when his company, Vixel, was bought by Emulex in 2003.

Before running Vixel, held executive posts at Silicon Valley startup Ridge Technologies, Digital Equipment, Apple.

Was at 1997 meeting during turbulent resignation of fellow OC 50er, then Apple chief executive Gil Amelio. McCluney stayed on under current chief Steve Jobs before leaving later that year.

Adept at acquisitions. Played key role in 2006 buys of Aarohi Communications, Sierra Logic.

Soft-spoken Scotsman known for humor, humility. Brought own management style to Emulex. Runs company as "balanced democracy," which gives him "diverse" perspective. Welcomes cordial disagreement among team.

British citizen, holds U.S. green card.

Wants a billion in yearly sales for Emulex by end of decade, up from $500 million now.

In February won CEO of the Year award from trade group Technology Council of Southern California.

Big on education giving: donated $1.5 million last year to engineering school at UC Irvine for Emulex endowed chair in electrical engineering, computer science.

Bachelor's in business from Glasgow's University of Strathclyde.

Wife Vivian on Pacific Symphony board of counselors, advisory group to symphony's directors. Two grown children. Likes Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, walking, cycling, reading, live music, theater.

Folino grew company into dominant supplier of electronics for data storage networks. Chief executive from 1993 to 2006. Moved company to bigger Costa Mesa campus in 2003.

Key member, past chairman of moderate Republican group New Majority. Close friend, adviser to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Was state finance co-chair for Rudy Giuliani presidential bid.

Big fundraiser: has helped raise more than $10 million for governor, mostly from New Majority members. VIP at state of state speeches.

Along with American Sterling's Larry Dodge, recently agreed to cover $3 million in California Republican Party debt.

Top OC philanthropist. Heavily involved in Performing Artscenter as board member, former chair. Led South Coast Repertory growth, theater named for him.

Vice chairman of Chapman University's board, heads fundraising for Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. Also supports Cal State Fullerton.

Director, Commercial Bank of California, Microsemi, Solarflare Communications, Aristos Logic.