Columbia Sportswear rejigs top management

Columbia Sportswear Company has announced several strategic organizational changes intended to further drive sustainable, profitable growth. Several seasoned members of the executive leadership team have been elevated to new roles. Tim Boyle, who has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the company since 1988, will continue to lead the company as Chief Executive Officer, while Bryan Timm, a 17-year company veteran who has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since October 2008, has been elevated to President and Chief Operating Officer of the company, effective February 25, 2015.

Commenting on the senior management reshuffle, Boyle said, “Strong momentum behind each of our largest brands drove our global net sales to more than 2.1 billion dollars in 2014 and is expected to fuel continued double-digit currency-neutral growth in 2015. The leadership changes that we are announcing today are intended to position us to secure the significant global growth potential that we believe exists within each of the brands in our portfolio.”

In his new role, Timm will oversee the company's wholesale sales function in North America, as well as direct-to-consumer operations in North America and Europe, while retaining his current leadership role over the company's global sourcing, supply chain and distribution operations. He will also direct the brand leaders at the company's Mountain Hardwear brand, headquartered in Richmond, CA, and the recently-acquired prAna brand, headquartered in Carlsbad, CA.

Peter Bragdon is promoted to the new title of Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel, effective immediately. Bragdon is a 13-year company veteran who has served as Senior Vice President of Legal and Corporate Affairs, General Counsel and Secretary since 2010. Tom Cusick is promoted to the new title of Executive Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. Cusick is a 12-year company veteran who has advanced through progressive financial management roles, serving as Senior Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer since 2010. All three executives will continue to report directly to Tim Boyle.

"The Columbia and Sorel brands are our largest and fastest growing brands today," said Boyle, adding, "In recognition of this momentum, and in order to better focus the company's resources to pursue each brand's potential, we are realigning our merchandising and design organization to create brand-specific go-to-market teams for each brand."

Joe Boyle is appointed to the newly-created position of Vice President of Columbia Brand Merchandising & Design, effective immediately, with responsibility for product creation for Columbia brand apparel, footwear, accessories & equipment. He is a 10 year company veteran who has progressed through a number of senior product and marketing roles, serving as Vice President of Apparel Merchandising since 2013. Mark Nenow is appointed to the newly-created position of President of the Sorel Brand, effective immediately, with responsibility for global brand direction and product creation. He has served as Vice President of Global Footwear Merchandising & Design over the company's Columbia, Sorel and Montrail footwear brands since he joined the company in 2007.