James Jannard

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James (Jim) Jannard is the founder of the eyewear and apparel company Oakley, Inc. and has been its Chairman and a director since the company's inception in 1975. He also served as its President between 1975 and February 1999. In October 1999, Jannard was named the company's CEO.^[1]

He was placed by Forbes Magazine at number 606 on its 2006 list of The World's Billionaires.^[2]

He is also the founder and principal backer of RED Digital Cinema, a manufacturer of high-resolution video cameras used in productions designed for cinema release. Jannard has said the company plans to first show a mock-up of their camera in April, 2006 and to start selling cameras by early 2007.

[edit] Personal life

Jannard attended the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. He reputedly named the Oakley company after his dog, an English Setter.

A keen photographer, he maintains a website of his own photographs.^[3] Topics include his race cars, his dogs and his personal Bombardier Global Express Jet. He uses high-end Canon equipment, including a 1DS camera and one of the only ten EF 1200 mm lenses in existence. He is the current user of two planes, both of which are decorated in a white Oakley paint scheme with Oakley's signature O on the tail.

He is married with four children and lives in the state of Washington, United States.

[edit] References

1. ^ Corporate website. Oakley. Retrieved on 2006-11-24.
2. ^ James Jannard. The World's Richest People. Forbes. Retrieved on 2006-11-24.
3. ^ jimjannard.com, Personal website