Pelican Products, Inc., the maker of protective cases, coolers, outdoor accessories, and temperature-controlled packaging, appointed James Curleigh as chief executive officer. Most recently, he was the CEO of Gibson Guitars.
Over his 30-year career, he also held leadership roles at M&M Mars, Salomon Sports and TaylorMade. Curleigh was formerly EVP and president of the Levi’s brand and president and CEO of Keen Footwear.
“JC brings deep consumer and commercial experience to Pelican, a brand that has built tremendous loyalty and is now ready for the next stage of growth,” said Brandon Crawley, interim CEO of Pelican and managing director at Platinum Equity, which acquired Pelican in 2021. “Pelican’s well-deserved reputation in protective cases lays the groundwork for the development of a more diverse product set. JC is the right leader to continue to broaden Pelican’s reach and leverage its core strengths to capitalize on emerging opportunities in the industry.”
Curleigh’s expertise will be pivotal in advancing the Pelican brand, leading the strategic direction, focusing on product innovation, driving customer engagement, and accelerating market expansion. He aims to “leverage emerging technologies and trends to keep Pelican at the forefront of the industry.”
“The opportunity to lead another iconic brand confidently into the future is very exciting for me professionally and personally,” said Curleigh. “I look forward to leading the team to further unlock the potential of the Pelican brand with the right balance of insights, inspiration and innovation.”
Curleigh replaces Phil Gyori, who led Pelican for seven years.
Photo courtesy Pelican
