Van Paasschen also held executive positions with Disney Consumer Products and was previously engaged in management and business consulting. He earned a bachelor's degree in economics and biology from Amherst College in Massachusetts and a master's degree in business administration from Harvard Business School.
Van Paasschen qualifies as an independent director under the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange Inc and the company's Corporate Governance Guidelines and will serve on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. His appointment brings Oakley's Board of Directors to eight members including founder and Chairman Jim Jannard, Chief Operating Officer Link Newcomb, and independent directors Tom Davin, Mary George, Colombe Nicholas, Mike Puntoriero and Greg Trojan. Each of the Board's committees continues to be comprised solely of independent directors.
Oakley: a world brand, driven to ignite the imagination through the fusion of art and science. Building on its legacy of innovative, market-leading, premium sunglasses, the company offers a full array of products including performance apparel and accessories, prescription eyewear, footwear, watches and electronics to consumers in more than 100 countries. Trailing-12-month net sales through June 30, 2005, totaled $615.3 million and generated net income of $49.0 million.