Kent Outdoors, the producer of outdoor equipment for over 50 years, hired Rob Otto as chief financial officer. With an “exemplary track record” in the consumer packaged goods space of improving profitability and operational efficiencies and managing integrations,
“We are extremely excited to welcome Rob Otto to the Kent team,” said Kent Executive Chairman Lee Belitsky. “He is an experienced leader who will help guide Kent as we actively pursue new opportunities.”
Otto has reportedly been recognized for “his ability to rapidly interpret complex situations, formulate solutions and make sound decisions and possesses considerable experience implementing processes and business solutions that spur growth and improve operations and profitability.”
Otto joined Kent after completing the sale of RW Designs, a wholesale and direct-to-consumer business, where he was CFO and chief operating officer. Before that, he held CFO and COO executive leadership roles at multiple CPG companies, including Z Gallerie, Hudson Jeans, Seven For All Mankind, and Affliction Holdings.
“Kent possesses some of the most recognized names and brands in the industry, and it is my goal to ensure the company remains an industry leader while enhancing operational capacity and processes to ensure our facilities and people are operating at their peak,” said Otto.
Founded in 1959 in New London, Ohio, Kent Outdoors is a diverse platform of outdoor brands with a broad product set spanning personal flotation devices, wakeboards, water skis, towable tubes, snowboards, and more. The Company’s portfolio of more than 15 brands includes Kona Bicycles, HO/Hyperlite, Connelly, O’Brien, Liquid Force, Onyx, Aquaglide, Barefoot/Fatsac, Bote, and Arbor Snowboards, managed by agreement with the Arbor Collective.
Image courtesy Kent Outdoors/Kona Bicycles
