Emerica

Pierre André Senizergues, Founder / CEO The Soul of Sole Technology
Founder and CEO of Sole Technology, Pierre-André Senizergues (Sin-e-zerg) is consumed with making his company the best it can possibly be. With a tireless work ethic and dedication to seeing skateboarding flourish on a global level, Senizergues has guided Sole Technology to unprecedented levels of success. Senizergues began his skateboarding career at age 15 in his hometown of L’Hay Les Roses, France — a suburb of Paris — and spent most of his formative years skating around the City of Lights. After attending the Universitaire de Technology of Paris XI in the early 1980s, Senizergues spent time as an engineer for IBM France. He moved to California in 1985. Shortly thereafter he turned pro.

Pierre-André achieved great success in his professional skateboarding career becoming one of the world’s premier freestyle skateboarders of the 1980’s, winning 12 French Championships, nine European Cup Titles, five European Championships, two World Cup titles and one World Championship.

Pierre-André’s next great challenge was design. He applied his talents to skate shoes at an up-and-coming European shoe company named etnies. His designs included key styles — the Senix, Lo-Cut, Low-Top Rap, Intercity and Scam — they were designed to enhance the skateboarding experience. Senizergues styled his shoes with a blend of fashion and durability unique in the industry. He successfully introduced the etnies line in the United States.

In the early 90's Senizergues' empire began to take shape as he launched three new brands: éS, Emerica and ThirtyTwo. He soon purchased the etnies brand and consolidated all four labels under the Sole Technology umbrella. He then created the Sole Technology Institute (STI) - the world’s first and only biomechanical research organization dedicated to skateboarding and added an additional brand, Altamont Apparel in 2006.

In recognition of his endeavors, Senizergues has received numerous accolades; including the Orange County Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the Immigrant of the Year Award, OC Metro's Hot 25 and Most Influential CEO's in Orange County and Footwear News' Power 100. In 2009, Pierre-André was once again recognized in OC based media for his green leadership and environmentally conscious philosophy in business, and most recently Microsoft's Customer Excellence in Environmental Sustainability. Senizergues was also recognized as one of the Top Innovators by the Orange County Register and by Global Green USA with a Corporate Environmental Leadership Award for his environmental practices and corporate responsibility by revolutionizing the way Sole Technology does business.

As action sports continues to grow in popularity, Senizergues is dedicated to ensuring that Sole Technology remains at the forefront in the industry. To achieve this, he keeps the company steadfastly focused on advances in quality, function and style. His ultimate goal is to make his company's products the premiere choice to support the next generation.

Senizergues believes the most successful brands in the future will deliver more than the lifestyle association promised by other brands. Excellence in design, advancing technology, function, comfort and style are prerequisites for all Sole Technology brands. Yet, tomorrow's brands must also lead by example in terms of positively impacting their customers' lives and working harmoniously with our environment. Sole Technology is continuously working towards these higher goals by sponsoring action sports events worldwide, giving back to the community (such as the etnies Skatepark of Lake Forest) and by implementing environmentally friendly initiatives, such as our dedication to becoming carbon neutral by 2020.