Bergans of Norway announced the retirement of its CEO Ragnar Jensen, and the appointment of Leif Holst-Liæker as his replacement.
Jensen, pictured to the left, joined Bergans Fritid AS in 1981 and has been in charge of the company since 1991. With his unique insight and experience, from both business life and outdoor pursuits, he has made many significant contributions to Bergans' success in recent decades. After 23 years at the helm, Jensen, 70, will retire in December, but will remain on the company's board and will continue to be involved in Bergans' future operations and growth.
Ranked the #1 young managerial talent by Norway's largest online business news site E24, and known for his collaborative and personable leadership style, Holst-Liæker, 36, officially joins Bergans later this year, and will work closely with Jensen until his retirement the end of this year.
During the last eight years, Holst-Liæker operated in various roles with the Norwegian conglomerate Bertel O. Steen Group, including four years as managing director of Viking Footwear and the last one and a half years as managing director of Bertel O. Steen Holding AS and Bertel O. Steen Invest AS. Before Bertel O. Steen, Holst-Liæker worked for five years as a consultant and project manager at McKinsey & Company. He earned a master of science in business and economics from the Norwegian Business School in Oslo.
“Bergans is a company and a brand that I have admired for many years,” said Holst-Liæker, pictured to the right. “I am impressed at what the company has achieved over the years and the unique position the brand has built, particularly in the Norwegian market. Taking over after Ragnar is a great honor and I am very excited about the inherent opportunities this gives me. This is a task I will approach with great respect and humility, while also looking forward to exploring the development and improvement potential of the brand and business.”
Last year, Bergans reported the best third quarter in the history of the 107-year-old outdoor clothing and equipment brand. Worldwide sales increased 16 percent for the first 10 months of 2014. The company credits its successful growth due to 30 percent of its sales taking place outside of Norway.
Bergans and its products have a longstanding reputation with history-making expeditions and adventurers such as first conqueror of the South Pole, Roald Amundsen who traveled with Bergans equipment; Mount Everest pioneer Sir Edmund Hillary who used the Bergans carrying frame for transporting oxygen bottles; Cecilie Skog, the first woman in the world to both successfully top the “The Seven Summits”, “The Three Poles”, and to cross Antarctica unassisted and unsupported; and Ryan Waters, the first American to complete an unsupported explorers grand slam (reaching the North Pole, the South Pole and climbing all Seven Summits).
Other modern day Bergans athletes include polar explorer John Huston, jibber and X Games Freeride competitor Anders Backe, and 2013 Freeride World Qualifier Tour winner Lorraine Huber.
Bergans offers a broad range of backpacks, tents, foldable canoes, and technical and fashionably functional outdoor and ski clothing.
