Hester, Harris

Harris Hester is a graduate of Mississippi State University and the Harvard Business School’s AMP program. He started his business career as a salesman for the Arrow Shirt Company and later moved to the company’s New York offices.

After holding several management positions, he was named president of Arrow in 1982. A few years later he became president and chief operating officer of Cluett Peabody. After leaving Cluett in 1994, he purchased Gitman and Company. In 1997, he sold Gitman and purchased the Forsyth Shirt Company which he sold in 2015. He currently runs a consulting firm, Opti Partners.

He and his wife Betsy lived in Darien for 40 years and currently live in the Getner Farms Association. They have four children and 5 grandchildren.

Currently president of Getner Farms, he is the former president of the Tokeneke Club, a former vice-chairman of the American Apparel Manufacturers Association and former consultant to the U.S. Trade Representative.