George Grabner “retired” unexpectedly as president of American Recreation Products (ARP) last week after 16 years serving in the post. He was replaced the same day by Jim Baumann, who spent most of the last 15 years running the nations largest operator of college bookstores.
The change, which has not yet been formally announced by ARP, comes seven months after Sun Capital Securities Group LLC acquired ARPs parent company, Kellwood Corp., for $767 million. Kellwoods board relented to the unsolicited bid only after Sun Capital persuaded a majority of Kellwoods shareholders that Kellwoods executives had badly mismanaged the company.
Grabner spent 22 years with the company, which owns Kelty, Slumberjack, Wenzel and Sierra Designs. He had served as a president of Kelty before being appointed president of ARP in 1992.
The change was announced at ARPs companies on Wednesday, when Baumann began meeting with management teams for the four brands.
For more information on Baumann, read this week’s The B.O.S.S. Report.
