Kelly Gibson is stepping down as CEO of Rip Curl position to pursue new opportunities, and is therefore also stepping down as SIMA president. SIMA’s board of directors appointed Shannan North of Billabong to fill the vacated president position.

Gibson has been SIMA’s president for the past three years. The board thanked Gibson for his many years of service to SIMA and the surf industry, and wishes him all the best in his new ventures.

North has served on the SIMA Board for the past year as the board vice president, and the board said it is excited that he has agreed to step into the president position. Long-time SIMA Board member and industry veteran Paul Naudé of Vissla has been appointed to fill the vice president position.

North and Naudé will join current Board treasurer Ted Li of Quiksilver and Board secretary Vicki Redding of Vans in rounding out the association’s Executive Committee and leadership team.