CamelBak Products, LLC has hired J. Marty O'Donohue to lead the company from a category originator to a dominant global brand in the recreation and military markets.
CamelBak's new Chief Executive Officer, who holds both an undergraduate history/economics degree and MBA from Stanford University, spent the last 15 years as CEO of Marinco, the leading manufacturer and marketer of specialty electrical components for both the pleasure boat market and the “harsh environment” industrial markets.
At Marinco, O'Donohue grew the company from $5 million to $70 million, repositioned and expanded the brand into the industrial market and introduced a “lean” culture throughout the company in a way that brought consistent operating efficiencies and quality.
“Marty knows how to build a team and deliver the products and services that define a world-class company,” said Dan Miller, Chairman of the Board at CamelBak and an operating partner at Bear Stearns Merchant Banking, the parent company of CamelBak. “He'll take CamelBak from being a respected leader in hydration into a world-class brand that exceeds customer expectations.”
O'Donohue replaces Glenn Gross, who announced his retirement in 2005.
“I am eager to take on the leadership of CamelBak, which is a pioneering brand, a market leader and a creative force providing indispensable products for the recreational and military user,” O'Donohue said. “And I'm excited to be joining an outstanding group of folks who are so obviously dedicated to quality and innovation.”
Prior to taking over the helm at Marinco, O'Donohue held a variety of high-level corporate marketing positions with companies like Crown Zellerbach and GardenAmerica, and began his career in marketing for General Mills. As an independent business consultant, O'Donohue worked with outdoor recreation consumer companies, ranging in size from $2 million to $50 million, for which he developed business and marketing plans, reviewed acquisitions and helped open new markets.
O'Donohue will oversee CamelBak as the company develops a more global consumer brand with a broader footprint in the military and recreation markets. He will focus on developing high quality products and services for the loyal customers who have helped CamelBak grow and maintain its position as the leader in hydration for people requiring peak performance in both recreational and military environments. In addition, he will help assure that CamelBak achieves its mission of becoming a dominant global brand.
