Paul Fireman made as one among the great American business leader, made his name and fortune as an accelerator in consumer goods, masterfully combining fashion and retailing into sporting footwear.

Serving Reebok as Chairman and CEO, for more than two decades, he is known for his direct to point style and decisive action. What set him apart was an uncanny vision to identify the aerobics wave sweeping the country, and the need for fashionable yet athletic footwear, which he tapped with the launch of ‘Freestyle’ shoes, the world’s first aerobic shoe available in delicate colours, using much softer material, yet proved to be sturdy.

“All marketing, design, and production are directed toward answering the requests, needs, and fantasies of customers versus us trying to tell the consumers what they want.”

In a classic corporate strategy, Fireman successfully persuaded the original owners of the brand for the North American franchise, in the Reebok line. He subsequently bought out the company on terms of outright purchase, acquired a bevy of footwear brands locally, and thereafter went public unlocking tremendous valuation. Regardless of the market leader Nike’s entrenched position and presence, Fireman successfully surpassed them in US, briefly, and at one point of time, Reebok was the fastest growing company in America.

Reportedly Fireman grew Reebok from $13 million sales to $1.4 billion in sales in the roaring eighties, expanding across the globe as a premier athletic brand.