Crocs Inc. Senior Vice President and CFO Jeff Lasher is leaving the company to take the CFO position at West Marine Inc., Crocs reported Tuesday. Lasher, who joined Crocs in 2009 and was named chief financial officer in 2011, will remain with the company through early November, when he will join West Marine.
Mike Smith, senior vice president for finance, has been named interim chief financial officer effective October 1st and will work closely with Lasher during a transition period. Smith joined Crocs earlier this year after a long career in finance, including several chief financial officer roles. Smith spent nearly two years as division senior vice president for finance at Wolverine Worldwide and, prior to its acquisition, Collective Brands Performance & Lifestyle Group, which included the Sperry Top-Sider, Saucony, Keds and Stride Rite brands.
“For the past six years, Jeff Lasher has played a key role in leading the company through major transitions, including the strategic repositioning that Crocs has been going through during the past year,” said Gregg Ribatt, Crocs chief executive officer. “Jeff is well-respected by investors, employees and our board of directors. We appreciate his many contributions to Crocs and wish him well in his future endeavors.”
“Mike Smith is a hands-on, strategic business leader with significant senior-level finance and business experience in the footwear and apparel industry,” Ribatt continued. “Mike is well positioned to make a great impact on the company as interim chief financial officer.”
Crocs will retain a global executive search firm to assist with the search for a permanent chief financial officer.
