Doug Otto

Douglas B. Otto (born 1951) is a business executive who co-founded Deckers Outdoor Corporation whose portfolio includes the UGG Australia brand.

Early life and education Otto was born in 1951 to two high school educators. He attended and graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a B.A. in business economics in 1973.

Deckers Outdoor Corporation While at UCSB in 1973, Otto began producing sandals with classmate Karl F. Lopker.

The duo, with Otto handling sales and distribution while Lopker oversaw manufacturing, based the company on durable, long-lasting sandals which catered to the surf community. After buying out Lopker in 1982, Otto decided to license and manufacture other companies' product which resulted in a 1985 agreement with Teva. and in 1995 acquired UGG Australia. The move, engineered by Otto, has been described as a "... brilliant and lucrative business maneuver..." The UGG brand, with Deckers, gained market traction slowly, but after an Oprah Winfrey feature on a "Favorite Things show sales and popularity increased dramatically.

Personal life Doug Otto is married to Rita Otto and has three children.