George Feldenkreis Honored by Miami Chamber of Commerce

MIAMI—George Feldenkreis, CEO of Perry Ellis International, has been named “Outstanding CEO of the Year” by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.

Chamber of Commerce chairman Carlos Fernandez-Guzman commented, “George’s vision, leadership and accomplishments; his inspirational story; and relentless desire to succeed make George one of the most distinguished recipients of this award.”

Left: Perry Ellis CEO George Feldenkreis with his son, COO Oscar Feldenkreis.

“I want to thank the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce for such a prestigious award. Miami has been my home for almost 50 years, and I am very proud to be recognized by Miami’s business community as the Outstanding CEO of 2008. This is a great honor,” Feldenkreis said in a statement.

Feldenkreis, 74, a Cuban-born lawyer, started an auto parts distribution company in 1961 when he came to Miami after the Bay of Pigs Invasion. He started the apparel company Supreme International in 1967, specializing in guayabera shirts. The company grew, and his son Oscar—now the COO—joined in 1980. The company expanded beyond private label and went public in 1993. After acquiring Penguin, Munsingwear, the golf brand Ping and Andrew Fezza in the 90s, Supreme made its biggest acquisition—Perry Ellis International in 1999—and changed its name.

Feldenkreis also founded the Universal National Bank of Miami and sits on the boards of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and the American Apparel and Footwear Association, among other organizations.