Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd. promoted Ryan Gellert to the newly established position of Black Diamond Equipment brand president.

 
Peter Metcalf will remain president and CEO of Black Diamond, Inc. while Gellert will move on from his current position as vice president of Black Diamond supply chain management. Gellert began his career at Black Diamond Equipment in 1998 and quickly ascended the ranks to project leader and managing director of Black Diamond Asia from 2005 to 2010.

Metcalf announced the pending split of his role at a company-wide meeting in February 2011, after which Black Diamond Equipment began the search for a highly qualified individual to fortify the top of the organization and provide focused leadership for the Black Diamond Equipment brand.

“Ryan has been fully committed to our team for over ten years and has proven himself as a highly effective leader,” said Peter Metcalf, president and CEO of Black Diamond. “These qualities, along with a deep connection to the values and ethos of Black Diamond, will be a tremendous asset as this brand enters its next stage of growth.”

Gellert will focus globally on all brand functions and will become only the second person to manage and lead Black Diamond Equipment since its inception in 1989 and only the third person in the 54 year heritage of the business, dating back to Chouinard Equipment.

“The vibrant energy, human capital and technological innovation at Black Diamond Equipment, combined with its commitment to being the world’s leading active outdoor equipment and lifestyle companies, is truly inspiring,” said Gellert. “I am both thrilled and honored to undertake this challenge and advance this brand in the increasingly competitive global marketplace.”

Gellert earned a J.D. at the University of Utah's S.J. Quinney College of Law in 2005. During his time in law school, Ryan studied European Union Law and Chinese Law and Legal Institutions at East China University of Politics and Law in Shanghai, China. Prior education includes a B.S.B.A in Finance from the University of North Carolina – Charlotte and an M.B.A. from Florida Institute of Technology. Gellert is an avid backcountry snowboarder and an active climber of over 15 years having climbed in Asia, Europe, North America, Australia, the Middle East and South Africa.