The search for Boardriders CEO Pierre Agnes has been called off. Image: AP
The search for Pierre Agnes, CEO of Boardriders, been called off. “Today we are deeply saddened to confirm that the search and rescue efforts have not been successful in locating our CEO, Pierre Agnes, who has been lost at sea since Tuesday morning,” read a press release sent on Friday morning.
Agnes, 54, headed out around 7 a.m. on Tuesday morning on a short fishing trip. Although initial reports speculated that he may have had someone aboard with him, now it appears he was by himself. Later on, he contacted port authorities to inform them that heavy fog had moved in, and he’d be delaying his return. A few hours later, his 36-foot vessel, the Macaret III, was spotted on the beach at La Graviere with no one aboard. Search crews were dispatched immediately and worked tirelessly for days, canvassing the area with two boats, a jet ski and three helicopters.
Agnes’s vessel, the Macaret III washed up empty a few hours after he left. Image: AP
It wasn’t an uncommon way for Agnes to start the day.”Early this morning our CEO, Pierre Agnes, did what he did many mornings and went fishing on his beloved boat to start his day,” the company said in a statement Tuesday just after his boat washed ashore.
Now, with water temperatures in the mid-50s, hope has faded of finding Agnes alive. “The only solace we can take from this,” wrote Greg Healy, Global President for Boardriders, “is that Pierre left us while doing something he loved – enjoying the vast and endless beauty of the ocean, which had been one of his life’s passions.”
It’s a loss that shakes the surfing world to its core—Agnes had been a central figure in the industry for years. He began at Quiksilver in 1998 and quickly began moving up the ladder. By 2015, he was the CEO of the newly named Boardriders, the parent company of Quiksilver, Roxy and DC Shoes.
“We are devastated by the sudden and unexpected loss of Pierre,” said Jose Cledera, Head of HR for Boardriders. He was a vibrant spirit, a humble soul, a charismatic leader and our beloved friend. We join the entire surfing industry in mourning his loss.”
Agnes lived with his wife and three children. Our thoughts go out to them and everyone else affected this tragedy.
