Ocean Minded, Inc., which was acquired by Crocs in 2007, has appointed Andrew Palmer to fill the newly created position of general manager. Palmer joins Ocean Minded with more than 20 years of experience in the action sports market. Notably, Palmer was co-founder of Animal, the leading action sports brand in the United Kingdom.
As the CEO of Animal USA, Palmer was responsible for building the U.S. infrastructure while also overseeing global sales. Following his tenure with Animal, Palmer served as the Global Sales Director for Dragon Optical, Inc. In this role Mr. Palmer grew domestic and global sales more than 100% in less than four years, while also expanding Dragon Opticals product offerings to include apparel and accessories such as printed garments to complement the optical business. Mr. Palmer rounded out his action sports growth expertise with Clive Bags where he implemented a successful international brand strategy.
“We are very excited to welcome Andrew to the Ocean Minded team,” said Gary Ward, Ocean Minded founder. “Andrews global brand experience and proven entrepreneurial background will allow us to continue with our rapid growth plan. As GM, Andrew will take responsibility for the day to day running of the business and I will work closely with him to bring the Ocean Minded ideals to domestic and international markets.”
Ocean Minded is a leading designer and manufacturer of footwear, apparel and accessories primarily targeted at the beach, adventure and action sports markets. The brands product, philosophy, and lifestyle have been embraced by world-class athletes Bethany Hamilton, Bede Durbidge, Greg Long, Rusty Long, and Dean Randazzo.
