American brand legend honored with Lifetime Achievement Award

A man behind some of America’s favorite brands will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from Chief Executive magazine. Leslie H. Wexner, chairman and CEO of L Brands will be honored at the CEO2CEO Summit conference, Dec. 4, 2014, at the New York Stock Exchange.

Wexner is the current longest-serving CEO of a Fortune 500 company as well as an avid philanthropist. Born in Ohio to Russian immigrants, he started The Limited in 1963 with a $5,000 loan from his aunt and the investment has blossomed into a $10 billion company whose brands include Victoria's Secret, Bath & Body Works and Henri Bendel, among others.

Throughout his career Wexner has grown and spun off top retail brands such as Lane Bryant, Abercrombie & Fitch, Lerner New York, Express and his flagship property, The Limited.

Wexner is also active in various charities, including bringing nearly 10,000 participants to this year’s 22nd Komen Race for the Cure in Columbus, Ohio. L Brand’s employees and Victoria Secret supermodels regularly participate in volunteering events, according to the company. Ohio State University renamed its Medical Center the Wexner Medical Center in honor hid generous support.

"Les has the complementary skills of being an extraordinary visionary and entrepreneur, while at the same time having the leadership prowess to scale that business into a giant and consistently maintain it over the long-term," said J.P. Donlon, editor in chief of Chief Executive magazine.

At the CEO2CEO Summit, an annual conference that brings together 100 CEOs to talk about growth and sustainability, Wexner will speak on developing a vision that constantly transforms and rebuilds a company.