Black Diamond Equipment promoted Doug Heinrich to senior vice president of product.
The hiring is part of several key changes and promotions to its product development team in order to focus on future innovation across both its apparel and equipment product categories.
“We are promoting and unifying key colleagues to bring apparel and equipment closer together to fuel the creation of all Black Diamond gear,” explains Tim Bantle, managing director of Black Diamond Equipment. “Integrating our apparel and equipment design teams will allow us to focus on innovation holistically throughout the product development cycle.”
Heinrich will provide vision for product concepts and oversee development across the entire portfolio of Black Diamond apparel and equipment. Heinrich, a prolific climber and veteran of the company, has served the brand in increasing roles starting in customer service, creating the BD retail store and as a sales representative. Heinrich’s diverse background includes having worked in senior executive roles at Patagonia and Icon Fitness. Most recently at Black Diamond, Heinrich served as the vice president of equipment.
“Product is the soul of Black Diamond,” states Heinrich. “Our pedigree of innovative products and technologies such as the Camalot, HotWire, Portaledge, AvaLung, Z-Pole, Magnetron, FlickLock, JetForce and most recently the PIEPS Pocket all reflect our company’s passion for the sports we serve. This intimacy is BD’s alchemy. It will continue to provide us with insight for future innovation.”
Heinrich will be supported in product development with a cross-functional, multi-disciplined team that spans the full spectrum of the product cycle. Bill Belcourt, a respected alpinist and longtime Black Diamond Equipment advocate, will serve in the new role of director of R&D for both apparel and equipment. Kasey Jarvis, who worked in the auto industry at GM and more recently at Nike in the Innovation Kitchen, will lead both apparel and equipment design. And lastly, Tara Latham moves into the position of design manager. Prior to her tenure at Black Diamond, Latham worked as an apparel designer for Arc’Teryx.
Further enabling an atmosphere focused on product innovation, Black Diamond Equipment will complete its ongoing repatriation initiative, moving its manufacturing capabilities back to Salt Lake City headquarters this summer.
“This consolidation and move to bring manufacturing back to Salt Lake City will shorten our supply chain and allow us to more quickly test and work on new product concepts. We can now move from early stage design through an iterative process using 3D printing into commercialization, all in the same building,” continues Bantle. “As a result, our product offerings for Spring 2016 and beyond promise to be some of the most powerful in the history of the brand.”
