Vista Outdoor is chugging along with their plan to split into two companies this year. The soon to be named Outdoor Products company will house all the fun outdoor brands like Simms, Fox Racing, and Camp Chef. Vista Outdoor’s former CEO was going to lead that company after the split, but his separation left them without a CEO.
Today Vista Outdoor announced they’ve found a CEO, Chris Nyman, from Hasbro where he was their President and COO. He’ll also be on the Board of the Outdoor Products company and he’ll have a start date with Vista Outdoor is August 21st.
I am honored to join Vista Outdoor as the CEO of the Outdoor Products segment and a member of the Vista Outdoor Board of Directors. It’s an incredible opportunity to lead an iconic portfolio while also joining a purpose-driven company with a compelling mission that connects people to the outdoors in deeper and more meaningful ways. The planned separation to unlock shareholder value will generate momentum for our people, brands and shareholders. I look forward to partnering with our teams, the board and external stakeholders in the days and months ahead as we take Vista Outdoor, the Outdoor Products segment and our brands to new heights.
Chris Nyman, incoming CEO of Vista Outdoor’s Outdoor Products Company
This isn’t Chris Nyman’s first exposure to companies that serve the outdoors. Prior in his career he held various marketing and brand management roles with Timberland.
Eric Nyman is a seasoned executive with extensive leadership, operational and marketing experience. He is a visionary thinker who is fit to launch and lead the Outdoor Products Company. His unique background and skillset, combined with our company’s unmatched portfolio of iconic brands, resilient operating model and strong balance sheet, positions Outdoor Products to deliver compelling value for our shareholders. I look forward to welcoming Eric in the coming weeks.
Michael Callahan, chairman of the Vista Outdoor Board
The current interim CEO, Gary McArthur, will continue in his current role until the planned separation occurs. On that happens, he’ll assume the role of Chairman of the Board of the Outdoor Products company.
Eric Nyman is an excellent choice to lead Outdoor Products as a standalone company. My focus is supporting Eric and Jason [Sporting Products CEO Jason Vanderbrink] as we enter the home stretch of the planned separation. It has been an honor serving Vista Outdoor and our employees as interim CEO and I look forward to continued collaboration with the leadership teams during the transition and upon my return to the board as an independent director and chairman.
Gary McArthur, interim CEO of Vista Outdoor
Vista Outdoor reports earnings on July 27th, so we’ll likely learn more about the transition. We’ll also hopefully hear how Camp Chef has fared during the first half of the grilling season.