Terry Pillow, Arkansas native, UCA grad and CEO of Tommy Bahama of Seattle, speaks at a business luncheon in Conway.
Terry Pillow, CEO of clothier and beachy lifestyle company Tommy Bahama, told a Conway audience that his Arkansas education and background had “always been a positive” for his career.
He spoke Oct. 19 on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas.
The former Corning (Clay County) resident grew up in Arkansas and graduated with a degree in marketing from UCA in 1976.
He has held executive positions with international companies Ralph Lauren, Reebok, Reebok subsidiary the Rockport Co., Coach and Armani Exchange.
“No one [at UCA] told me I couldn’t do something. I thought I had the best education,” Pillow told the group gathered for his talk. “I’ve always been proud of where I’m from and where I went to school. It’s always been a positive and never hinders me.”
Pillow, 59, has been CEO of Tommy Bahama of Seattle since 2008. His total compensation was $1.59 million in 2011, with a base salary of $750,000. Pillow’s first management job was as president of Chaps, Ralph Lauren, at the age of 29, he said. “My head was spinning like a top,” he said.
Pillow saw Tommy Bahama through rapid growth in Web commerce. The company, which had no Internet sales in 2007, is projected to take in online sales of more than $65 million in 2012, he said.
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