William E. Brown

Businessman who took control of Central Garden Supply in 1980 and has served as Central's chairman since then, including long periods as CEO.

William E. 'Bill' Brown is the figure most associated with Central Garden & Pet, although the business itself dates to 1955 as Central Garden Supply in Lafayette, California. After taking control in 1980, Brown expanded it from a regional garden distributor into a national pet and garden distributor and took it public in the early 1990s. When big-box retailers began buying direct from manufacturers, he shifted the company toward owning brands, buying Kaytee, Four Paws, Nylabone and Pennington Seed in the late 1990s. He has remained chairman and holds significant voting power through Central's Class B shares.