Legendary names Hugh E. Sawyer president (updated)

DESTIN — Hugh Sawyer said he was just trying to enjoy his retirement in the area. But Legendary Inc. had different ideas.

      After signing on as an executive with Legendary Marine last August, Sawyer has recently stepped up to become president of all of Legendary’s holdings. Company founder Peter Bos will remain chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer, according to a press release from Legendary.

      “I’ll report to Peter, and I’m quite comfortable in doing so,” Sawyer said in a phone interview late last week. “Everybody else will report to me.”

      Headquartered in Destin, Legendary boasts a restaurant division, a real estate development group, a management operations division and a holdings division. Its developments include Emerald Grande resort, Legendary Marine, Regatta Bay Golf and Country Club and Destin Commons.

      In his 30-year business career, Sawyer has earned a reputation as a “turnaround specialist.”

      His last mission as CEO of Allied Systems Holdings was to lead it out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The Atlanta-based hauler of cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles did just that in May 2007.

      Sawyer had four previous “company rescues” to his credit, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

      As far as his new duties, Sawyer said, “I prefer to characterize myself as someone who helps companies maximize their performance. My role at Legendary will be to focus on efforts that were already under way, to maximize our performance so that Peter Bos can focus on strategic opportunities and vision.”

    In other words, Sawyer will oversee day-to-day operations.

      “It’s accurate to say I’ll work in a collaborative way with all of the skilled people at Legendary to keep the trains running on time, and to continue to improve the results of the company,” Sawyer said.

      “The truth is, I’m lucky to be in right place at right time.”

      Bos was unavailable for comment.

      Sawyer wasn’t planning to continue working when he arrived.

      “I came here to retire,” said Sawyer, who is 53. “We’d been coming here for at least 20 years, and when the kids left home, we asked ourselves, ‘Where we would really like to live and retire?’ And I can’t imagine wanting to live anywhere else.”

      The retirement lasted four days. Fred Pace, co-founder of Legendary Marine, got Sawyer involved there last year. Recently, Legendary Marine was named “Dealer of the Year” by Boat & Motor Dealer magazine, a leading publication in the industry.

      A 1976 graduate of the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in English, Sawyer has held leadership roles in several businesses.

      In addition to Allied Holdings, he has served as president and CEO of Wells Fargo Armored Service Corp., The Cunningham Group, National Linen Service and Aegis Communications Group Inc.