Dov Charney

Dov Charney (born January 31, 1969, Montreal, Canada) is the founder and CEO of American Apparel, a clothing manufacturer, wholesaler, and retailer which he started at age 20.

Charney is known for his success as an entrepreneur, and passion for simple clothing. His "contrarian" leadership style, which he feels promotes creativity, has drawn both extensive praise and criticism. Charney has earned recognition in the media for management decisions to pay a fair wage and refusing to outsource manufacturing.

Charney had been sued at least five times since the mid-2000s, in suits that have either been dismissed, settled, or are still pending, on charges that he created a sexually charged, hostile environment.

The Los Angeles Times named him as one of the Top 100 powerful people in Southern California and in 2009, he was nominated as a Time 100 finalist by Time magazine.