Marolina Outdoor, the parent company of Huk Performance Fishing and Nomad Outdoor, has hired Nate Smith as chief executive officer.
Smith brings 20 years of executive leadership experience working for consumer-branded omni-channel organizations in apparel, footwear and accessories. He has garnered a proven track record of building and repositioning brands and developing omnichannel retail strategies.
Smith has held senior executive roles at Patagonia and Oakley and, most recently, was president at Boardriders, a holding company consisting of several large global brands, including Quiksilver, Billabong, Roxy, RVCA, DC Shoes, and Element.
Edwin Lewis, chairman of the company’s Board of Directors, commented, “We are incredibly excited to have Nate join the Marolina team. The leadership skills he developed in service to this country, combined with his extensive experience working with iconic brands, makes Nate uniquely qualified to lead Marolina in the next phase of its growth.”
“I am very excited to be joining Marolina Outdoor, a company with an amazingly talented team and a proven formula for success. As someone who appreciates the passionate communities, cultures, and lifestyles the Huk and Nomad brands represent, I am eager to dive in with the team and develop a growth strategy that continues to exceed the performance apparel needs of fishing and hunting enthusiasts.”
Smith received a B.S. in Political Science from the U.S. Naval Academy and served ten years as a U.S. Navy Seal, working in over 25 countries. He also graduated with an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Images courtesy Huk Performance Fishing, Nate Smith
