Arc’teryx Equipment, the manufacturer of technical performance apparel and equipment for the global outdoor community, announced the appointment of Matt Bolte as chief merchandising officer, with Marissa Pardini as general manager and Ben Stubbington as creative director of its Veilance brand.
Bolte brings nearly 35 years of retail leadership experience to Arc’teryx, spanning multiple global markets. He is said to be a digitally savvy leader adept at managing complex organizations. Before joining Arc’teryx, Bolte was a partner at ThenWhat, Inc., focusing on brand consulting and launching apparel brands. Before that, his 17-year tenure at Nike included leadership roles in product and merchandising across multiple categories, including men’s performance and sportswear in various geographies. In his role at Arc’teryx, Bolte oversees the strategic direction of merchandising, planning, programming, and business development across all product categories.
“Matt’s deep expertise in executing complex, global merchandising strategies and extensive industry experience will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our leadership position in both our technical outdoor and premium apparel businesses,” said Stuart Haselden, CEO of Arc’teryx. “Over the past year, the merchandising team has undergone a transformative journey. With Matt’s deep understanding of merchandising and his passion for the Arc’teryx brand, he is an excellent fit for this role.”
Pardini joins Arc’teryx from Vans, where she most recently served as chief product and merchandising officer, a newly created role at the time overseeing global apparel and footwear product and merchandising functions. While with the company, she reportedly helped Vans “reach more than $1 billion in direct-to-consumer sales,” ascending the company’s ranks from buyer to director roles in footwear to vice president of Merchandising. Pardini also held roles at Vans sister company, The North Face, as the Americas VP/GM and a buyer at Bloomingdale’s. In her new role as general manager, she oversees Veilance’s global strategy, aligning with the brand’s mission of “delivering precision-engineered apparel for urban environments.”
Stubbington brings his extensive expertise in design and product development and experience leading design teams for nearly 20 years. He previously served as senior vice president of Design for Lululemon, overseeing men’s, men’s and women’s Lab and the creative direction for the business. Under his leadership, the men’s business reportedly “grew over five times.” Before Lululemon, Stubbington was the creative director for men’s at Theory for nearly eight years. Stubbington leads the creative direction for Veilance, strengthening its product and brand identity. Stubbington is a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
“The addition of Marissa and Ben to our Veilance team marks a pivotal moment in our journey as we double down on our commitment to innovation and excellence with this unique line in the Arc’teryx collection,” continued Haselden. “Their combined leadership and innovative thinking will be instrumental in elevating Veilance as a leader in the performance luxury space.”
Images courtesy Arc’teryx
