Peter E. Haas Jr. (born 1947) is an American businessman and philanthropist.

Peter E. Haas Jr.
Born1947 (age 76–77)
NationalityAmerican
EducationStanford University (BA)
Occupationbusinessman
Known forPresident and CEO of the Levi Strauss & Co
Spouse(s)Joanne Christensen (until her death)
Ginnie Haas
Children3
Parent(s)Josephine Baum Haas
Peter E. Haas
Family Rhoda Haas Goldman (aunt)
Walter A. Haas Jr. (uncle)
Walter A. Haas (grandfather)
Abraham Haas (great-grandfather)
Douglas E. Goldman (cousin)
Robert D. Haas (cousin)
Walter J. Haas (cousin)

Biography

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Haas was born in San Francisco, the son of Josephine (née Baum) and Peter E. Haas.[1][2] His father was Jewish and his mother was a gentile from Kaw City, Oklahoma.[2][3] He has two siblings: Margaret Haas Jones[1] and Michael Stern Haas (predeceased).[4][5] He graduated from Stanford University in 1969.[6]

In 1972, he was appointed as a manager at the Levi Strauss Company.[7] Thereafter, he worked in various capacities at the Levi Strauss Company.[7] In 1980, he was named as vice president and general manager of the Menswear Division.[7] In 1982, he was appointed Director of Materials Management for Levi Strauss USA.[7] In 1996, he along with his father and cousin, Robert D. Haas, led a $2.5 billion leveraged buyout of Levi Strauss to ensure that it would remain in the control of the Haas family.[8] All employees and family members would decide if they wanted to hold their shares or sell.[8] After the transaction, 95.2% of shares were held by Haas family members[8] with 43% held by Haas, his father, and Robert D. Haas;[9] and 12.4% by Rhoda Haas Goldman.[8]

Haas was either a director or trustee at the Levi Strauss Foundation, the Red Tab Foundation, the Joanne and Peter Haas Jr. Fund, the Walter and Elise Haas Fund, the Novato Youth Center Honorary Board, Trustee Emeritus of the San Francisco Foundation (1996-2005), and Vice President of the Peter E. Haas Jr. Family Fund.[7][10][11][12]

Personal life

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Haas was married to Joanne Christensen[13][14] until her death.[2] They had three children: Jennifer C. Haas, Daniel Haas, and Bradley Haas. He is remarried to Ginnie Haas.[2] Haas also has two stepbrothers from his father's second marriage to Miriam "Mimi" Lurie: Ari Lurie and Daniel Lurie.[1][15][16] Upon his father's death in 2005, his father's interest in Levi Strauss (worth $1.9 billion in 1999) was passed to Haas, his stepmother Mimi Haas, and his sister.[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Stanford Report: "Peter Haas dead at 86; helped endow public service center" by MICHAEL PEÑA December 14, 2005
  2. ^ a b c d San Francisco Chronicle: "Josephine Haas July 5, 1914 - June 14, 2014" June 19, 2014
  3. ^ Glaser, Eleanor (1992). "Peter E. Haas - President, Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties, 1977-1978 - Interviews Conducted by Eleanor Glaser" (PDF). Regional Oral History Office, The Bancroft Library University of California, Berkeley. I dated Jewish girls, though I went around with non-Jewish girls, That was one of those things you went through. My first wife was not Jewish.
  4. ^ San Francisco Gate: "Josephine Haas (1914 - 2014)"
  5. ^ San Francisco Gate: "Levi's Bold Plan For Reorganization" by Peter Sinton February 13, 1996
  6. ^ Stanford Report: "Three medical school faculty to receive endowed professorships" by Margarita Gallardo August 8, 2007
  7. ^ a b c d e Levi Strauss Company website: "Peter E. Haas Jr." retrieved October 12, 2014
  8. ^ a b c d New York Times: "Levi Strauss Stock Buyout Would Benefit Small Group" by James Sterngold February 21, 1996
  9. ^ a b Forbes: "Haas Family" retrieved April 5, 2017 | "Today, Peter Haas, Sr.'s widow, Mimi Haas, and his son, Peter Haas, Jr., who spent 17 years in managerial roles at the company, serve on the board of directors. Together with Peter's sister, Margaret E. Haas, and their cousin, Robert D. Haas, they own 43% of the company's shares"
  10. ^ Red Tab Foundation: "Board of Directors: President Peter E. Haas Jr." retrieved April 5. 2017
  11. ^ San Francisco Foundation: "BOARD OF TRUSTEES" retrieved April 5, 2017
  12. ^ San Francisco Gate: "THE HAAS LEGACY / How one family's generosity and commitment to civic life are transforming the Bay Area" by Julian Guthrie July 1, 2007
  13. ^ San Francisco Chronicle: "Obituary - Gerald J. Christensen" July 7, 2013
  14. ^ San Francisco Chronicle: "Obituary - Lorraine M. Christensen " April 24, 2005
  15. ^ Grind TV: "High Line Festival Of Surfing Founder Ari Lurie On Uniting Surf Culture" by Kailee Bradstreet July 07, 2014
  16. ^ Haute Living Magazine: "One-on-One with Daniel Lurie, CEO of Tipping Point Community" by Kelly E. Carter January 8, 2016