Doug Otto | |
---|---|
Born | Douglas B. Otto 1951 (age 72–73) |
Education | University of California, Santa Barbara (B.A. 1973) |
Occupation | Business executive |
Years active | 1973–2008 |
Employer | Deckers Outdoor Corporation |
Board member of | The Whale Beach Foundation |
Spouse | Rita Otto |
Children | 3 |
Douglas B. Otto (born 1951) is a business executive who co-founded Deckers Outdoor Corporation whose portfolio includes the UGG Australia brand.
Otto was born in 1951 to two high school educators. [1] He attended and graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a B.A. in business economics in 1973. [1] [2]
While at UCSB in 1973, Otto began producing sandals with classmate Karl F. Lopker. [3] [4] [5]
He really invented the modern flip-flop we know today, the neoprene rubber with parachute webbing. They were called Deckers.
–Angel Martinez, Deckers President and CEO [6]
The duo, with Otto handling sales and distribution while Lopker oversaw manufacturing, based the company on durable, long-lasting sandals which catered to the surf community. [7] After buying out Lopker in 1982, Otto decided to license and manufacture other companies' product which resulted in a 1985 agreement with Teva. [7]
Deckers went public in October 1993 [8] and in 1995 acquired UGG Australia. The move, engineered by Otto, has been described as a "... brilliant and lucrative business maneuver..." [7] and "one of the great success stories within the consumer category." [9] The UGG brand, with Deckers, gained market traction slowly, but after an Oprah Winfrey feature on a "Favorite Things show sales and popularity increased dramatically. [9] UGGs soon became a fashion trend ingrained in popular culture with celebrities such as Kate Moss, [9] Katy Perry, Gisele Bündchen, and Sarah Michelle Gellar all wearing the brand as well as being shown on Sex and the City. [9]
Otto retired from Deckers in 2008, [2] but revenue continued to climb and first hit $1 billion US dollars in 2010. [10]
Doug Otto is married to Rita Otto and has three children. [1] He is currently the President and Chairman of the Board for The Whale Beach Foundation, roles he has held since 1994. [1] He was honored by UC Santa Barbara in 2009 with its "Distinguished Alumni" award, joining his Deckers Corporation co-founder Karl Lopker who was a 1998 honoree. [11]
Doug Otto | |
---|---|
Born | Douglas B. Otto 1951 (age 72–73) |
Education | University of California, Santa Barbara (B.A. 1973) |
Occupation | Business executive |
Years active | 1973–2008 |
Employer | Deckers Outdoor Corporation |
Board member of | The Whale Beach Foundation |
Spouse | Rita Otto |
Children | 3 |
Douglas B. Otto (born 1951) is a business executive who co-founded Deckers Outdoor Corporation whose portfolio includes the UGG Australia brand.
Otto was born in 1951 to two high school educators. [1] He attended and graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a B.A. in business economics in 1973. [1] [2]
While at UCSB in 1973, Otto began producing sandals with classmate Karl F. Lopker. [3] [4] [5]
He really invented the modern flip-flop we know today, the neoprene rubber with parachute webbing. They were called Deckers.
–Angel Martinez, Deckers President and CEO [6]
The duo, with Otto handling sales and distribution while Lopker oversaw manufacturing, based the company on durable, long-lasting sandals which catered to the surf community. [7] After buying out Lopker in 1982, Otto decided to license and manufacture other companies' product which resulted in a 1985 agreement with Teva. [7]
Deckers went public in October 1993 [8] and in 1995 acquired UGG Australia. The move, engineered by Otto, has been described as a "... brilliant and lucrative business maneuver..." [7] and "one of the great success stories within the consumer category." [9] The UGG brand, with Deckers, gained market traction slowly, but after an Oprah Winfrey feature on a "Favorite Things show sales and popularity increased dramatically. [9] UGGs soon became a fashion trend ingrained in popular culture with celebrities such as Kate Moss, [9] Katy Perry, Gisele Bündchen, and Sarah Michelle Gellar all wearing the brand as well as being shown on Sex and the City. [9]
Otto retired from Deckers in 2008, [2] but revenue continued to climb and first hit $1 billion US dollars in 2010. [10]
Doug Otto is married to Rita Otto and has three children. [1] He is currently the President and Chairman of the Board for The Whale Beach Foundation, roles he has held since 1994. [1] He was honored by UC Santa Barbara in 2009 with its "Distinguished Alumni" award, joining his Deckers Corporation co-founder Karl Lopker who was a 1998 honoree. [11]