REI affirmed Rachel Ligtenberg’s leadership of its $2 billion retail operations last week by promoting her to VP of Retail and expanding her duties to include retail operations.
Ligtenberg, who is a 25-year veteran of REI, already was leading store design, visual merchandising and flagship strategy for the retail cooperative. She continues to report to Tim Spangler, senior VP of retail. Ligtenberg will continue to enhance REI’s retail experience through new store design concepts showcasing its products, services and educational programs.
The co-op currently operates 141 stores in 33 states, including four flagship locations in Seattle, Denver, Bloomington, MN, and New York. REI’s fifth flagship location will open in the historic Uline Arena in Washington, D.C., in the fall of 2016.
“Rachel is an inspiring leader and advocate for change, always pushing REI and our employees to connect with our members in richer ways,” said Jerry Stritzke, REI president and CEO.
Ligtenberg joined the co-op after college as a sales associate in the Sacramento store. During her time at REI, she has impacted many parts of the business by leading marketing, merchandising and retail teams. She served as GM of the Seattle flagship store for seven years before becoming director of visual merchandising and later regional VP of retail. She is an active member of the Outdoor Industries Women’s Coalition, serving in her second year as a mentor. The REI Foundation became the OIWC’s largest benefactor in January by pledging to donate $1.5 million to the organization’s development program for a women's leadership initiative that has since been backed by more than a dozen outdoor brands
