The chief executive of Boardriders, which this month agreed to add Billabong to its portfolio of surf and sportswear brands, has gone missing at sea, but his boat has been recovered from a beach on the French coast.
Boardriders, which owns Quiksilver, Roxy and DC Shoes, on Wednesday said Pierre Agnes had gone missing while on his usual morning fishing trip.
"His boat was recovered on the beach near his hometown and Pierre has not been heard from since," the company said in a statement.
"The Boardriders family and entire surfing world are devastated by this news."
Boardriders this month entered into a scheme of arrangement under which it would acquire all shares in ASX-listed Billabong other than the 19 per cent owned by Oaktree Capital Management, which already controls Boardriders.
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Mr Agnes was due to become the president of Boardriders and remain a board member, with chief turnaround officer Dave Turner replacing him.
"We are concentrating on working with the local authorities on the search and rescue effort and supporting Pierre's family," Boardriders said.
Former world surf champion Kelly Slater was among those on social media to pay tribute to Mr Agnes, whose boat was found on the beach at Hossegor on France's southwest coast.
