Jan. 31 (UPI) — Authorities stepped up a search for the chief executive of the Quiksilver clothing company Wednesday, after his abandoned boat was found off the coast of southwest France.
Officials said Pierre Agnes, 54, left on a solo boat ride early Tuesday morningfrom the surfing resort of Hossegor to go fishing.
He was aboard the ‘Mascaret III’ when he reported on the water that he was “postponing” his trip home due to heavy fog.
After friends and family were unable to contact him, a mayday alert was issued and Agnes was declared missing.
Agnes’ vessel was found on an Atlantic beach near his hometown of Capbreton. The area is known for its intense and often dangerous waves.
Quiksilver was an Australian company that is now part of California-based Boardriders. Agnes served as the head of the company’s France-based headquarters before taking control of the company in 2015.
“Early this morning our CEO, Pierre Agnes, did what he did many mornings and went fishing on his beloved boat to start his day,” Boardriders said in a statement. “Later in the morning his boat was recovered on the beach near his hometown and Pierre has not been heard from since.”
