EDUCATION:
MBA Pepperdine University
BA California State University Northridge
MEMBERSHIPS:
LA Mayor’s Fashion Council (Founding Member)
California Fashion Association
California Manufacturers & Technology Association
Member of Dean’s Board of Directors at CSUN
California Business & Industrial Alliance (Founding Member)
AWARDS:
LA Business Journal & CFA
CA Apparel Manufacturer of the Year 2017
Social Media Links
Houman Salem is an entrepreneur and business strategist to the fashion, apparel, and retail industries. As the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of ARGYLE Company, Mr. Salem overseeing the strategic management of each of the company’s divisions. Since its founding in 2010, ARGYLE Company has launched several successful business-to-business divisions that operate within all areas of the fashion and apparel value chain.
Prior to founding ARGYLE Company, Mr. Salem had founded and served as the CEO of Chelsea Manor Intimates, a retail store destination for entry-level luxury lingerie and intimate apparel. Chelsea Manor Intimates operated within a popular Westfield™ mall property in Southern California, and also operated online through Chelsea-Manor.com.
From 2008 to 2010, Mr. Salem served as a senior executive at the Rubies Costume Company in New York (the World’s largest designer and manufacturer of Halloween costumes with annual revenues over US$400 million). Mr. Salem was enlisted by Rubie’s Costume Company to develop a brand that would capitalize on the fast growing segment for woman’s adult Halloween costumes. In 2008, he conceptualized, founded, and served as the president of Delicious Costumes™, where he was directly responsible for the strategic management and daily operations of the company, including full P&L responsibilities. Under Mr. Salem’s leadership, Delicious Costumes™ operated as a stand-alone subsidiary of Rubies Costume Company. Mr. Salem managed and was directly responsible for product development, cost engineering, overseas manufacturing, global sales and marketing, and logistics. In this position, Mr. Salem reported directly to the President and Executive Vice President of Rubie’s Costume Company.
Salem transitioned his career into the fashion industry in 2004, where he accepted the role of Chief Executive Officer of Forplay, Inc., a Hollywood California-based designer and manufacturer of woman’s lifestyle fashion and intimate apparel. Mr. Salem was responsible for the overall strategic management and financial performance of the company. He managed a Domestic and International sales force helping to gain presence at over 3,000 retail stores worldwide while growing top-line revenues by over 200%. Mr. Salem successfully positioned the company for long-term growth by developing and launching new product lines including a swimwear collection, club wear collection, and a Prêt-a-porter intimates collection.
Mr. Salem’s aggressive marketing tactics lead to celebrity tie-in with Paris Hilton, Brittany Spears, and Carmen Elektra. In addition, he created a joint venture with the Universal Music Group where he entered into a multi-year agreement to brand Forplay fashion with music. In this position, Mr. Salem reported directly to the founding owners of the company.
Prior to entering the fashion industry, Mr. Salem worked in management consulting working with a variety of technology, consumer products, and entertainment companies from 2001 to 2004. Mr. Salem began his career in the music industry in 1994, where he held positions with EM-Capitol Records, Sony Music Group, and the Universal Music Group.
Mr. Salem earned an MBA from Pepperdine University in 2001 and a BA in History from California State University Northridge in 1994.