Cotopaxi hired Heath Christensen as the company’s new director of wholesale. Prior to his appointment at Cotopaxi, Christensen spent a decade at Black Diamond as sales operations manager and later as director of North American sales and also as the sport division manager at Petzl.
At Cotopaxi, Christensen will head up a new wholesale division, a strategic growth trajectory for the initially direct-to-consumer brand. Since its founding in 2014, Cotopaxi has been known as a digitally native brand; however, as it has grown, the company has garnered increasing interest from retailers invested in offering Cotopaxi to their customers.
“We delayed entering the wholesale channel, wanting to ensure we could support our direct-to-consumer business, whilst doing wholesale right,” said Davis Smith, CEO and co-founder of Cotopaxi. “This year we feel really ready, and with our new Wholesale Director Heath Christensen at the helm, we’ve officially kicked off our wholesale business with a number of amazing retailers.”
In his new position, Christensen will work closely with current representatives and territories, which are as follows: True North, Pacific Northwest; Cordillera Sales, Rocky Mountains; Water Mountain Sports, Southwest; Katherine Corbett, South/Southeast; Ferrand Associates Inc., Mid Atlantic; The Road North sales, Northeast. He will also work closely with Cotopaxi’s new retailers such as Paragon Sports, REI, Great Outdoor Provision Co. and Rock Creek Outfitters.
“I am thrilled to be part of the Cotopaxi team,” Christensen said. “The brand’s mission is inspiring and the team’s thoughtful approach to doing business resonates deeply with me personally and professionally. I look forward to growing the wholesale channel in a brand accretive manner with like minded retailers.”
“We’re thrilled for this next chapter in Cotopaxi’s growth,” Davis said. “We hope that wholesale will be another way for us to build brand awareness and accomplish our mission of inspiring adventure and moving people to do good.”
