Daniel Borel & Guerrino De Luca

Some entrepreneurs have to wait decades for their moment in the sun. That certainly was the case for Daniel V. Borel, the Swiss-born chairman of computer-peripherals maker Logitech International (LOGI ). Since Borel founded the company in 1981 with a Stanford University buddy, Logitech has survived economic downturns, technology revolutions, market missteps, and battles with Microsoft (MSFT ) and Intel (INTC ). Now, the maker of computer mice, keyboards, digital cameras, and video-game accessories is enjoying unprecedented success--thanks in part to its chairman's steadying hand.

Borel is happy to share the glow with another entrepreneur who came on board more recently but gets equal credit for Logitech's recent boom. Italian-born-and-educated Guerrino De Luca joined Logitech as CEO in 1998 after a career at Olivetti and Apple Computer. His years at the company have been some of its most glorious: Sales have grown 30% annually, revenues are approaching $1 billion, and shares are up 60% in the last year. Does success make Borel and De Luca smug? Far from it. "We've both been through tough times, and you never forget the hard lessons," Borel says. Adds De Luca: "We can never afford to think we walk on water."