Three months after the somewhat sudden resignation of Rose Marcario, who led the company for 12 years, Patagonia has named Ryan Gellert as its new CEO of Patagonia Works, the umbrella company for all its ventures, from clothing to smoked salmon to documentaries. Gellert has served as the brand’s general manager of Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) for the past five-plus years.
“The board took a lot of factors into consideration and ultimately felt Ryan’s deep commitment to Patagonia’s mission and values—that the company has had since the beginning—and his experience leading internationally, best positioned us for success in these uncertain times,” Kris Tompkins, a Patagonia board member, said in a statement. “Further, Ryan’s attentiveness and dedication to seeing others excel, and his passion for our product and activism, made him the right choice for Patagonia’s next chapter.”
Gellert, 48, previously worked for 15 years at Black Diamond Equipment in a number of roles, including as brand president. He has a law degree from the University of Utah, an MBA from Florida Institute of Technology, and has been on the board of directors of the Access Fund and Protect Our Winters.
The company also announced that Jenna Johnson, 44, will be the new head of Patagonia, Inc., responsible for the direction of Patagonia’s business units such as apparel, packs, and other gear. Previously, Johnson had been vice president of technical outdoor for the company, leading groups that built products for everything from trail running to snowboarding. She has an executive MBA from the University of Washington.
According to the Patagonia’s board of directors, Gellert’s deep commitment to the company’s mission and long-held values, as well as his international experience, best positioned Patagonia for success in these uncertain times. The company also said that Gellert’s attentiveness and dedication to seeing others excel, and his passion for Patagonia’s product and activism, made him the right choice for the organization’s next chapter.
