James Ellis
AEG Board of Advisors
James G. Ellis served as the Dean of the Marshall School of Business at The University of Southern California from April 2007 until June 2019, responsible for the education and well-being of some 6000 undergraduate and graduate students. He continued to have a tenured appointment to the faculty as a tenured Professor in the Department of Marketing, where he was from 1997 until he retired in July 2021.
From October 2005 to April 2007, he was the Vice Provost of Global Initiatives for the University, with the responsibility to build and enhance the USC brand internationally. Prior to that, he was Vice Dean, External Relations, responsible for planning and implementing executive education programs for corporate executives, as well as Development, Alumni Relations, Corporate Relations, and Marketing/Communications for The Marshall School of Business. In addition, he served as the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Business Programs, administering to curriculum, admissions, advising, and student programs for the undergraduate students there. He has been named Professor of the Year by numerous campus organizations, including student and faculty groups, and was one of the top five rated professors at the University by the students.
From 1990-1997 he was CEO of Port O’Call Pasadena, an upscale home accessory retailer, which was successfully sold, and was an owner/officer of Mayco Colors since 1989, a ceramic paint manufacturer based in Columbus, Ohio—which was also successfully sold in 2002.
He was President/CEO of American Porsche Design—administering to the sales and marketing of Porsche Design products in North America from 1985 to 1990—working directly for automobile’s Porsche family. He was responsible for opening their first retail store in the world in 1989.
Mr. Ellis was involved in several entrepreneurial ventures since leaving the corporate arena in 1983. He has been Vice President, Merchandising, of Miller’s Outpost; Chairman of Socks du Jour, a startup retail chain of 23 stores he engaged in with a partner; and Chairman of Comfort Center Mattress Shops, a chain of 21 stores which grew from five after being acquired.
From 1970 until 1983, Mr. Ellis was with The Broadway Department Stores, rising to the position of Vice President, Merchandising. During his experience with the then largest department store chain in Southern California, he spent time in both soft goods and hard goods merchandising—a crossover that is rare in the retailing world. In those capacities, he devoted time to developing products around the world.
He was a Director of Sideout Sport, Southern California volleyball apparel manufacturer, as well as a director involved in the successful sale of Forecast Homes, a home construction business, to a New York Stock Exchange firm. He was a founding director of Professional Business Bank in Pasadena, California, successfully sold. He has served on other corporate boards—including The Capital Group’s Fixed Income Funds and the Investment Company of America Boards of Trustees. Currently he is on the boards of three publicly traded companies--Mercury General Insurance, The JG Boswell Company, and FAT Brands—as well as numerous private companies.
Mr. Ellis holds an MBA degree from the Harvard Business School, and a BBA degree from the University of New Mexico, where he was a member of the varsity golf team. He is the former two-time Chairman of the San Gabriel Valley Chapter of the Young Presidents Organization, and served YPO as its Regional Vice President, as well as on its International Board of Directors. He has served the Chief Executives Organization on their Board of Directors as Vice President, Education, as was on the International Board of Directors of the World Presidents Organization. In addition, he is the past Chairman of the Board of Kidspace Children’s Museum in Pasadena and is Past Chairman of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce. He has served on four non-profit organization boards, and is past Chairman of the Board, and current director of Rose Hills Foundation.
Mr. Ellis has received numerous community awards, including the Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce Young Executive of the Year. Capitalizing on his business operating acumen, he has spoken to groups around the world, and consulted with many companies. He and his wife, Dr. Gail Ellis, have five children, ten grandchildren, and reside in San Marino, California. In 2000, he won an award for which he is most proud---named by a local charity as Father of the Year!