Dive Brief:
- As part of its ongoing expansion efforts, Colorado-based outdoor brand Topo Designs announced it appointed Matt Williams as chief executive officer, succeeding brand co-founder Mark Hansen.
- Williams, who joined the company in 2019 as chief operating officer, played an integral role in helping the brand secure its first outside investment this past spring from Gart Capital Partners.
- Hansen, who co-founded Topo Designs in 2008 with current president Jedd Rose, will remain on the company’s board of directors, supporting retail expansion and wholesale partnership initiatives.
Dive Insight:
The appointment of Williams comes at a time of growth for Topo Designs.
The brand’s revenue grew more than 30% in 2022 and is projected to increase by double-digits this year, per a company press release.
The company has been growing its C-suite the past few years to support its growth. In addition to Williams, the brand added Nike veteran Rachelle Thurik as director of marketing; Sean Han, formerly with Spyder, as director of sales; and Christy Bailey from Pact Apparel as director of product overseeing sustainable design innovation. As of March, Topo Designs employed 70 people at its Denver headquarters and plans to add another 50 roles over the next three years.
Other DTC brands recently have brought in fresh leadership to replace founders as the companies seek growth, including Glossier, Casper and Brooklinen.
"Topo Designs is in an exciting growth period and I'm honored to help lead the brand into its next chapter as we continue investments to accelerate our mission of The New Outdoor," Williams said in a statement.
The appointment follows a capital investment from Gart Capital Partners that will allow Topo Designs to take its business to the next level by adding to its wholesale distribution and opening more retail stores. The brand currently has five Topo Designs stores. The company offers its products through more than 1,200 wholesale partners, including REI, Backcountry, Urban Outfitters, Nordstrom, Moosejaw, Bespoke and Zappos, as well as some specialty outdoors and independent lifestyle shops.
In an email Williams told Retail Dive that the company is preparing to open its first East Coast location in Boston this fall and is exploring leases in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
“Our branded retail strategy is paramount to our growth strategy, and our decision to align with Gart was largely due to their extensive roots in outdoor retail,” Williams said. “The Gart team’s expertise in this space has been a strategic advantage, and they have been an amazing partner in the few short months since closing.”
Williams said the brand is focused on identifying areas where it has “direct channel and wholesale success to collectively uplift key markets. These markets tend to be areas where outdoor recreation can be easily accessed.”
