Rather Outdoors announced that industry veteran Zack Swanson would join its North American operation on February 1, 2022, to lead Lew’s, Strike King, Zebco, and Quantum as its SVP brand management.
Swanson joins the company following a career spanning two decades at Rapala VMC Corp. as VP sales and general manager. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors for the American Sportfishing Association, which he has held since 2016.
Rocky Kalsow, President of North America for Rather Outdoors, sees the appointment of Zack Swanson as an important step forward for its brands. “Lew’s has been home to true American innovation since 1949, the same year the very first spin cast reel rolled off the production line at a company that would later become known as Zebco. Both Strike King and Quantum have been creating groundbreaking tackle for nearly half a century,” Kalsow said. “At Rather Outdoors, our brands have solidified themselves as legendary names, and they have a rich legacy of being built and guided by true giants of this industry. We continue this tradition by having Zack at the helm.”
“I could not be more excited to be a part of this family. The leadership of Rather has worked tirelessly to build an environment where innovation and progress are celebrated,” said Swanson. “There is a deep history here at Rather that we will continue to honor and draw strength from, but make no mistake, there are exciting days ahead, and anglers who love these brands will want to pay attention.”
