Quiksilver announced earlier this month that Bob McKnight is retiring as a senior executive at the company.
While he will continue to work on projects and remains a board member and large shareholder, not having Bob working in an executive capacity after 39 years on the job is a significant change for Quiksilver.
To mark the occasion, we asked some industry leaders, retailers and key former Quiksilver employees about the impact Bob had on Quiksilver and also the industry over the years, and for their favorite Bob memories.
Tom Holbrook, the first Quiksilver salesman who retired last year after 35 years with the company
“Bob and I first met in college. I was at UCI and he was at USC and we were both on the surf team for our schools, and we competed against each other.
“When I really got to know him was when we were both working at The Cannery in Newport Beach. He was just a stoked surf kid making movies at 58th Street, and then showing them at night on the beach. I was the bartender and he was the valet and bar-back.
“He partnered with Jeff Hakman on this boardshort thing from Australia, and they gave me a pair and they were pretty cool. Jeff and Bob would hangout at The Cannery and talk about their vision for where it could go – they were so passionate. Bob was pretty captivating when he talked about it.
“I started selling Quiksilver during the day, and still worked at The Cannery at night.
“Another thing that sticks out is my mind is how competitive Bob is. Whether it’s surfing or tennis or business. If he didn’t like how he performed in the water, he’d yell out, ‘Come on Bob!’ He was never satisfied with his own effort. I think that competitiveness helped drive the success of the company.
“The company grew and grew, and I remember when it hit Bob. It was in the 90s, and the company had a big Christmas party at The Newporter. We had a couple of hundred employees by then, and the employees were there with their wives. Bob was dazed for a second, looking at them all. He said to me, “Wow, I’m responsible for all of these families.” He felt that responsibility and carried that with him.
“I like thinking about all of the people who started at Quiksilver and got experience in the industry then moved on to other places or created other companies. It was the University of Quiksilver, and Bob was glad to lead it.
“From in-store displays to company stores – all these things happened under his leadership that are tools that the whole industry uses today. He created the road map on how things get done.
“Some of my best memories are the company trips to Tavarua for global meetings, or having the whole company go river rafting on the Kern River, or flying to Hawaii for a sandy beach contest. We worked hard and we played hard, and those trips created loyalty and bound us together like a family.
“Bob always had such passion for the brand, and for the industry. At the end of the day, he was really just a stoked surfer.
“Bob retiring will be a big change, but if anybody deserves a break, it’s him. People don’t realize how hard it is to be the face of the brand and of the company globally. It’s a big responsibility.
“What is important is the amazing brand that remains. His vision has always been to make sure the brand lives on.
“If you look back on how it all started, Bob going up the coast peddling boardshorts out of his VW bus, trying to make enough money to pay the girl to sew more of them – you never would have bet on it.
“We’re all so fortunate how it worked out, and Bob was the guy leading the charge, always.”
See Page 2 for Richard Woolcott and Michael Tomson’s thoughts on Bob’s legacy
Richard Woolcott, Volcom co-founder and former Quiksilver employee
“Bob McKnight has been a good friend, mentor and inspiration to me for many years. His vision and leadership have helped shape our industry and he set the standard of what is possible when building a brand.
“Quiksilver’s influence can be seen and felt throughout the world when it comes to Action Sports. Quik pioneered many aspects of the business that we take for granted today.
“They were the first to build and manage a truly global board riding company and the first to go public. They inspired and built an amazing women’s business through the introduction of the Roxy boardshort and bikini. They set the bar in merchandising, in-store build outs and stand-alone retail. They also showed what is possible with the power of creative marketing through their athlete programs, action movies, specialty events and product campaigns.
“I’m stoked to have been exposed to this energy at an early age, first as a Quiksilver team rider and then as a full time employee working in their marketing department before starting Volcom. The experiences with the company and friendship with Bob have been priceless.
“As for my most memorable time spent with Bob, there have been many, but the adventures closest to my heart would be the Tyax trips.
“During the early 2000’s, Bob would invite a group of employees, industry friends and media partners to join him on his yearly heliboarding mission to Canada. I was fortunate enough to be included in this group and to this day, those were some of the best times I’ve ever spent in the mountains. The riding was incredible, the crews were legendary and the parties at the lodge were all time. The best part was at the end of the trip, Bob would pick up the bar tab, stoking everyone out even more.
“Good times, Mr. McKnight and thank you for all you have done for the industry. Enjoy your next chapter in life and remember to keep an eye out for that guy on the snowmobile flying across the lake.
“Keep charging….Wooly.”
Michael Tomson, co-founder, Gotcha
“I don’t think this industry truly grasps the impact that Bob McKnight and Quiksilver have had on all of our lives, all of our businesses. Over the last 30 years Bob and Quiksilver have lead this industry, given it shape and character and created the footprints we have all followed.
“The business model we all pursue today originated with Quiksilver. Starting with the basic concept of building a surf lifestyle brand internationally, selling the same concept in California, Europe, Japan, South America – that started with Quiksilver, with Bob.
“Then the Junior’s business, Roxy was the forerunner, the brand that made the category happen. That was Quiksilver. Onto branded stores, the Quiksilver Board Riders Clubs defined the concept of branded retail stores in our space. That was under Bob’s leadership. Being one of the first to create a functioning branded e-com platform in our industry – that was also Quiksilver and Bob.
“Even on the downside, Quiksilver took the biggest hits in 2008 when the global financial crisis took hold and they were the first to begin liquidating non-performing assets and slimming down operating overhead. That, too, was Bob (with a few banks lending a hand).
“Over the past 30 years, Bob McKnight has been defining the path of our collective future. The history of our industry is in many ways the history of Quiksilver under Bob’s leadership. We should all recognize that.”
See Page 3 for Mark Richards of Val Surf, and his memories of Bob peddling boardshorts in the early days
Mark Richards, co-owner, Val Surf
“I remember those early days in the mid-70s with Bob and Quik fairly well. There was a buzz going around about this Aussie boardshort, Quiksilver, which was being brought over for distribution in the States.
“Bob and Jeff Hakman had been selling them for a short time initially through Newport Surf & Sport and a couple Hobie stores down south. I don’t recollect if I contacted Bob first or if he sought us out when he decided soon after to venture north to LA from behind the Orange Curtain. We, of course, brought them in and because Newport S&S is no longer and Hobie has changed hands since, Val Surf can rightfully claim to be THE Original Quik dealer in the USA.
“I can still see that VW bus that Bob and Jeff would drive up to North Hollywood/Valley Village, usually after a night of raging in Newport. Yes, this makes Bob our very first Quik rep.
“They would have a box loaded with original scallop board shorts and literally dump them on our floor for me to rummage through and pick out our selection. Great way to do business – no prebooks!
“Needless to say, we lit it up in L.A./Malibu as being the only dealer around for some time.
“I can even remember when Quik made that decision to get into denim and Bob, once again, was the ‘rep’ that presented it to us.
“I was also fortunate to be invited on trips with Bob such as the Eddie Waimea openings and Tyax heli snowboarding, which meant many shared waves and powder runs. Great memories!
“We’ve been through a lot with Bob and Quik all these years and were there to witness all that has gone on. It is tough to see him back out as it also was with Holbrook and Willy a little while back.
“We wish him all the best in his retirement and hope that Quik will be able to bounce back and regain their positioning even without his leadership and direct contributions.”
Randy Hild, who spent 20 years in key marketing roles at Quiksilver
“Bob always ran the company like it was a professional ball team. He was the leader and the coach and it was all about the team, always. It was not about one person – he kept egos in check and did what was right for the team.
“He was a mentor to everybody, from all disciplines in the company – from the CFO to the young design kid. And they both had the ability to learn from him.
“The last five years have been rocky, but up to that point he led the company and the industry to an amazing level. 2007 was really the threshold for everybody – now it’s time for the next generation to take over. He’s the first one to say, the company has grown beyond him.
“He is responsible for so many industry firsts – going public, being the first brand to design and properly market a women’s line and be successful at it, the first to have a large retail presence, the first online retailer. That’s pretty powerful stuff.
“Quiksilver also had the first million-dollar athlete in Tom Carroll, the Kelly Slater legacy. When you add it up, you have to step back and say it was pretty impactful – it was one man’s vision, and he was able to rally the troops to make it happen. He handpicked the team, and he was the coach. He was the most important mentor of my entire career without question.
“Bob was also the ultimate policeman that ensured the core credibility was always intact. His passion was growing the brand while still staying relevant – he loved to say, ‘globally recognized, but locally relevant.’
“Anytime we were not relevant at a local beach, meetings were held. I don’t know if those conversations are going on today – it’s such a different marketplace. Everything has changed in the consumer landscape. It’s probably time for a new book to be written.
“While it’s hard to image Quiksilver without Bob, he created a powerful brand that transcends him. Quiksilver has stores in India, in Eastern Europe, in Russia – that is powerful and that transcends Bob.
“My favorite memories without question are the Tavarua trips a group of us would take every Thanksgiving with our families in the mid-90s. It was all about learning another culture, heavy surf, spending time with family and friends. That’s when you got to know Bob the man, and his family. We didn’t talk work during those trips. It was all about pure, pure fun. It was a great break, and it bonded us all together. Those trips are etched in my memory.”
See Page 4 when Duke Edukas of Surfside remembers how Bob and Quiksilver helped during the dark days after Sept. 11
Duke Edukas, co-owner, Surfside Sports
“Bob McKnight optimizes the work ethic, passion, entrepreneurship, and competiveness, that defines the Surf Industry. There is not another single individual among us who has recognized the potential lifestyle, growth, and sheer enjoyment of being a part of this industry.
“He and some others were there at the beginning, but Bob prevailed through several ups and downs of not only Quiksilver, but also of the industry as a whole. His ability to recognize incredible talent within many individuals, athletes and co-workers combined propelled Quiksilver and the surf industry to the next level.
“When the tragic events of 9/11 occurred, for the six weeks following the event, Surfside’s sales were down an alarmingly 60%. People’s minds were elsewhere, certainly not into buying items within our store.
“Tom Holbrook came in to see how things were going. I informed him how difficult things were. He said he had a meeting with Bob McKnight later in the day. That afternoon, Tom called us and told us that McKnight told him to tell us to not worry about paying any Quiksilver outstanding invoices until things improved.
“Things did improve, a couple of weeks later people came out of their shells, almost in a retaliatory manner against Al- Qaeda, and a virtual feeding-frenzy of purchases occurred. Bob and Quiksilver put our minds at ease in those dark days, something we will never forget.
“I have many fond memories of Bob. From hanging out with him at so many events that I was fortunate to be a part of, to wild times in Vegas in the early days of SIA, to just talking with him and being a part of his company, Quiksilver, for so many years.”
Aaron Pai, owner, Huntington Surf & Sport
“My favorite Bob McKnight memory was his induction into the Surfers’ Hall of Fame on July 20, 2005. We were honored to be able to thank him for his contributions and achievements to our sport of surfing and to our surf industry,
“Two of his good friends, World Surfing Champions Tom Carroll and Mark Richards, were also inducted that same morning, making it super special for Bob. Bob drew a huge crowd of friends, family, fans and Surf Industry leaders – one of the biggest crowds we have ever had at a Surfers’ Hall of Fame Ceremony. He delivered an inspirational and touching speech, which amazed the crowd. It was a very special moment in surf history.
“Bob influenced entire generations of people in Orange County, the United States and the entire world by marketing our sport of surfing in so many creative and special ways, whether in an ad in Surfer Magazine, a WCT contest in G-Land, or a movie like “Young Guns 2.” Thus inspiring more kids to start surfing, keep surfing and to live the surfing lifestyle – in addition creating customers.
“In 1990 Bob McKnight was the first to tap into the women’s surf market with the creation of Roxy, which was a huge success and the entire surf industry followed in the years to come. The key point here is that Bob always has thought out of the box and he and Quiksilver have been forward-thinking since the beginning, creating amazing energy, products and culture. Another key point here is that Bob has the gift of VISION – the ability to peer into the future, allowing him and Quiksilver to lead the entire surf industry for decades!
“Bob McKnight is a surfer and the ‘real deal.’ He is very much respected by everyone that I know including myself.
“My family, along with all the people at HSS, would like to thank Bob McKnight for all his hard work and congratulate him on a job well done. Much love and aloha!”
See Page 5 for a special recent visit Bob make to see George Karamitos and the Maui Nix team
George Karamitos, owner, Maui Nix
“I have a couple memories but my favorite just happened. We have been celebrating our 25th year in business this year. We started in ‘89.
“Roxy and Quik planned a small dinner for a few of my crew and some of theirs just before Surf Expo last month. We met at a restaurant in Daytona Beach and everyone trickled in. I was standing with my back to the door and didn’t notice until my wife motioned to me that Bob was standing behind me.
“He had flown into Daytona to make the dinner and thank us for the business over the past 25 years. I was floored and humbled. He has always been warm and approachable.
“As far as I’m concerned Bob McKnight is one of two or three people who have helped to make this industry what it is today. He is a true pioneer and a visionary and many of us owe our success to what he and Quiksilver have created. He’s a class act and I hope retirement is a fulfilling chapter in a remarkable life.”
Dave Nash, owner, Sun Diego
“It’s actually kind of hard to come up with one favorite Bob McKnight memory. There are the golf trips to various special places, the trip to Hawaii for the Eddie Aikau ceremony along with the grand opening ceremony for Quiksilver’s new store in Waikiki, the ‘Build the Pond’ speech at Surf Summit in Mexico, his 50th birthday party, and the amazing retirement party Bob and his wife, Annette, threw for Tom Holbrook.
“Bob has endless energy and competitive spirit, he is unafraid to take a risk or try something new, and he has amazing friends. But for me, the best moments and memories come from the more private conversations we have had over the years on the state of the industry as well as talking about Bob’s other interests (of which he has many, starting with his family).
“Bob’s leadership in the industry was and is a major reason why we are here today and I certainly hope that retirement or not, he continues to help lead and be a strong supporter of the surfing culture.
“As far as Bob’s ‘industry’ legacy goes, let’s start with building a billion-dollar business in the surf industry. And the other major part of this would be having the vision to see a girl in a men’s boardshort and turn it into not only an entire new business for surf retailers and brands, but also at one point in time Roxy was the #1 retailing brand in the industry.”
See Page 6 for comments from Paul Naude, Fernando Aguerre
Paul Naude, CEO Stoke House Unlimited – Vissla, Amuse Society, D’Blanc
“Bob’s leadership has had a profound impact not only for Quiksilver, but also for the surf industry and surfing in general. His competitive spirit has fueled the fire for many of his competitors over the years, which indirectly has raised the bar for the industry. He was one of the founding members of SIMA, which helped create structure and a voice for the industry.”
Fernando Aguerre, Reef co-founder and President of the ISA
“When all is said and done, Bob will continue to be my inspiration and inspiration for countless others around the world.
“Without Bob, none of us in the surfing world would be where we are today.
His love for life and surfing, something we both share, have been a key feature of Bob’s legacy.
“My favorite Bob moment was when I was able to convince him and Paul Naude, fiercely competitive guys, and both people I respect, to be the presenters of my Waterman of the Year award. That was an insane moment in my life, and having Bob presenting was certainly an incredible plus for the award.”
