Paul Stoneham is to step down as CEO of Helly Hansen after six years at the helm of the technical outdoor brand. He will remain in his role until a new CEO is appointed and a handover period has occurred.
The move follows Helly Hansen’s sale to Canadian Tire Corporation in May 2018.
Stoneham was appointed CEO in early 2015 by previous Helly Hansen owner Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, to set the business on a new trajectory. Under his leadership, a new growth strategy was developed that placed the Outdoor Professional at the heart of the business and led it through a prosperous phase.
In May 2018, he led the sale of the business to Canadian Tire. At the time of acquisition, he committed to lead Helly Hansen for three years to finish the business transformation, integrating the company into CTC and establishing a 2025 growth plan.
Stoneham said: “It has been a privilege to lead such a great team and business over the last six years. Despite significant market change, the Helly Hansen team has delivered strong long-term growth fueled by a strategy that places the outdoor professional at the heart of the business. Helly Hansen’s future growth prospects remain strong with focused category, geographic and channel expansion underway.”
“With the Helly Hansen-CTC integration complete and a strong management team in place, Helly Hansen is well-positioned to continue delivering long-term growth,” said Greg Hicks, president and CEO, Canadian Tire. “The brand’s resilience and positioning for the future is a testament to the leadership provided by Paul and his team. On behalf of CTC, I would like to thank Paul for his many contributions — including growing and taking CTC global — and wish him continued success in his future endeavors.”
Photo courtesy Helly Hansen
