Mike Jeffries

Don’t let Mike Jeffries’ age (he’s 62) fool you. In every way, from the way he carries himself to the way to talks to the way he dresses, Jeffries is undisputably young. As CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, Jeffries turned a middle-of-the-road apparel company into a multibillion dollar, often-imitated lifestyle brand that sells youth, sex and style. From irreverant, sometimes-controversial marketing to rule-breaking store designs, Jeffries is not afraid to push the envelope. His efforts have kept Abercrombie in a league all its own and given it a coolness quotient that is off the chart with young shoppers.

Jeffries has got all the bases covered, from kids (abercrombie) and high-schoolers (Hollister) to college kids (Abercrombie) and young professionals (Ruehl). And now he’s taking his act to the global stage. The new Abercrombie flagship in London is seen as Jeffries’ opening salvo in European expansion.