Robert B. McKnight Jr. will step down as CEO of Quiksilver Inc., replaced by former Disney and Nike executive Andy Mooney, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The management change will be effective Jan. 11. McKnight will become executive chairman.
The report indicated McKnight was looking for a successor with
experience with bigger brands, e-commerce and global expansion.
“Ive been with the company for 35 years, and it’s the only job Ive
ever had,” McKnight told the Journal. “It’s time to really take this to a bigger
and better place.”
Mooney was previously chairman of Disney Consumer Products, and is credited with reviving Disney’s licensing business, re-inventing Disney
Stores and opened Disney English Language Learning Centers in mainland
China. Mooney grew Disneys publishing division to become the global leader in
childrens publishing and was responsible for creating two of the
companys largest franchises, Disney Princess and Fairies. He resigned from Disney in September 2011.
Prior to joining Disney, Mooney spent 20 years at Nike, ultimately
becoming that companys chief marketing officer. In this role, he
collaborated with Portland based ad agency Wieden & Kennedy in the
development of the advertising campaign ‘Just Do It. During his
tenure at Nike, Mooney managed the companys footwear and apparel
divisions and founded Nikes equipment division.
McKnight was a co-founder of Quiksilver in 1976 served as its president from 1979 through July 1991 and has been chairman of the board and CEO since August 1991. In February 2008, he also was re-appointed as president.
Besides the Quiksilver brand, the company distributes Roxy, DC and Hawk.
