Smith Optics of Sun Valley, ID announced its second set of personnel changes this week, this time aimed at growing its sales in the sunglass and optical markets.
Effective immediately, Lindsey Johnson has been appointed to the role of international business development manger for Smith Optics reporting directly to Blair Clark, senior VP of sales and marketing. In her new position, Johnson will develop and implement the Latin American and Pacific Rim sales channels for the brand.
For the past four years, Johnson has served as product line and category manager for helmets, helping the brand to achieve a leadership position for winter helmets. In her departure from the position, Graham Sours has been hired as the new helmet category manager. Sours spent the past two seasons as the hardgoods product coordinator at Scott Sports and will bring his extensive knowledge of the wintersports and bike divisions to his new position. Sours reports directly to Eric Carlson, VP of product and design.
New regional sales managers have also been appointed. Scott Oliver, former general manager for Oakley Canada and most recently with Easton-Bell, will oversee the Central territory. Mark Phares was promoted from his role as general manager of Smith MX to preside over the Western region after his remarkable transition of moving Smith’s motocross business from a distributor based model to direct sales reps with the support of Smith MX sales manager, Brady Rodriguez.
Smith veteran, David Currier, was also promoted to the role of general manager of the brand’s optical division where he can provide laser focus to the growing demands of the optical channels. Currier and his team recently hired 12 new optical reps.
“Between the long time Smith veterans: Mark, David, Lindsey and Brady taking on new sales roles, plus getting Scott Oliver on our team, we are preparing for an exciting new sunglass and optical launch that will enable Smith to lead in sunglass and optical the way we dominate in the winter sports markets,” said Clark. “Look forward to a new era of lens technology coming soon and some other industry game changers.”
