Columbia Sportswear Company has appointed Topher Gaylord as president of its wholly-owned subsidiary Mountain Hardwear, Inc.


As president of Mountain Hardwear, Inc., Columbia said Gaylord will be responsible for product creation, global sales and marketing of Mountain Hardwear-brand apparel, accessories & equipment, and for global sales and marketing of Montrail-brand trail-running footwear.  He will report to Mick McCormick, Columbia Sportswear’s executive VP of global sales and marketing, and will relocate to Mountain Hardwear’s Richmond, CA headquarters, replacing Kirk Richardson, who has served as interim president since November 2009. 


Gaylord, 40, joined The North Face in 1993, rising to serve as managing director of the company’s EMEA region from 2000 to 2005 and as president of VF Corporation’s Outdoor & Action Sports International brands, including The North Face, Vans, Reef and Jansport, from 2006 through September 2008.  Gaylord has served as president of 7 For All Mankind.


Gaylord has served as president of 7 For All Mankind within VF’s Contemporary Brands coalition since October 2008. 


“Topher is one of those rare individuals who knows what it takes to build performance-based global brands,” said Tim Boyle, president and CEO of Columbia Sportswear. “We believe our Mountain Hardwear and Montrail brands, with combined 2009 sales of approximately $110 million, will benefit greatly from Topher’s leadership, knowledge, and global experience.”

Over the course of his career, Gaylord has been responsible for all aspects of brand positioning and management, product design, merchandising and development, marketing, sales, establishment of multiple go-to-market business models around the world, including wholesale, direct-to-consumer, distributor, and licensing, as well as the successful integration of numerous acquired brands.  He has extensive experience working in multi-cultural environments in Europe, Asia and North America, building strong business relationships that have resulted in sustained, profitable growth.

“I am energized by the opportunity to lead Mountain Hardwear,” said Gaylord.   “As a dedicated ultra runner and outdoor athlete, I have always admired Mountain Hardwear and Montrail products and appreciate the authenticity and integrity with which each brand has pursued its passion to serve the high-performance needs of outdoor athletes and consumers.  I believe both brands offer rich possibilities for growth as we capitalize on their global potential.”


Interim president Kirk Richardson will assist with Gaylord’s integration and then return to Portland, Oregon to resume his prior position as Columbia Sportswear’s general manager of footwear merchandising.  “We are indebted to Kirk for serving as interim president at Mountain Hardwear and look forward to welcoming him back to Columbia,” said Boyle.