GU Energy Labs’ has named former Smith Optics executive Blair Clark as its new vice president of sales and announced several other changes to its sales organization.
Jon Parker has been hired as senior regional sales manager for the East Region and that Laura O’Meara, formerly GU’s national sales manager for IBD, has been promoted to regional sales manager for the West Region. Moritz Hoemke continues to lead GU’s expanding international business.
“I look forward to spending the next chapter of my life focused on helping GU expand on its position as a leader in performance nutrition,” said Clark. “Our expanded Eastern and Southeastern presence gives us better regional balance, which will improve our daily focus on serving our retail partners with a high degree of responsiveness and attention.”
For the last 11 years, Clark served as senior vice president of sales and marketing for Smith Optics in Ketchum, Idaho. During his tenure there, Clark led Smith’s expansion from its core business in goggles and sunglasses into snow-sports helmets and bicycle helmets. He also helped establish the Suncloud line of sunglasses.
Prior to his time at Smith, Clark was general manager and vice president of sales at Specialized Bicycles, and also spent six years at Giro, where he served in a variety of positions, culminating as president of the company.
Blair has long been an active contributor to outdoor and cycling communities. He currently serves as chairperson of the Foundation Board for “People for Bikes,” which recently eclipsed 1 million members.
“Blair is a great fit with our values and long term plans,” said GU’s President Tal Johnson. “He’s respected and trusted because of what he’s achieved and how he’s done it. And we love that he shares our passion for the outdoors, our sports, and giving back.”
Jon Parker comes to GU with over 20 years of sales experience in the sports and outdoor industries. Most recently he was the national sales manager at Montrail/Columbia Sportswear, where he led the transition of Montrail from Richmond, CA to Portland, OR. An avid trail runner who has finished multiple ultra-marathons, Parker was a collegiate soccer player at Old Dominion University and is based in North Carolina.
Laura O’Meara has worked at GU Energy Labs since mid-2013, managing twelve agencies and 34 independent reps in the cycling world. She is an outstanding endurance athlete who won The North Face Endurance Trail Championships 50k in 2013 and raced in the XTerra Triathlon World Championships.
