Tough Mudder, Inc. recently announced that Kyle McLaughlin, the company’s president, has been promoted to chief executive officer, effective July 1, 2019.
“Thanks to Kyle’s leadership, Tough Mudder’s 2019 offerings have received rave reviews from customers new and old. We are very pleased with the progress he has made in transforming the business with a focus on delivering the unconventional experiences that are the essence of Tough Mudder’s brand,” said Guy Livingstone, co-founder of Tough Mudder Inc. and a member of its board of directors.
McLaughlin is a veteran of the mass participation industry with deep experience in event production, marketing and sponsorship. Since joining the company, McLaughlin has steered the reimagining of Tough Mudder’s core obstacle course offering, directed enhancements to the on-site customer experience, and supported significant growth in sponsorships and group sales. Prior to Tough Mudder, he served as a senior production executive at New York Road Runners, the producer of the TCS New York City Marathon and over 55 other major races in the New York City area.
“Kyle has done an amazing job of bringing his fresh perspective for Mudder Nation to life while staying true to my original vision,” said Will Dean, founder and non-executive chairman. As the company’s founder, Dean remains a key champion for Tough Mudder’s disruptive obstacle course racing, active lifestyle and media brand.
Since the start of McLaughlin’s tenure, Tough Mudder is on track to see 20 percent year-over-year growth in its global partnership portfolio, and a 100% increase in its corporate team building program. Tough Mudder recently launched an Incubator program to develop partnerships with start-up and sustainable small businesses, and a new charity program to allow non-profit organizations to leverage Tough Mudder’s global event network as a peer-to-peer fundraising platform. Continued strong international growth has seen Tough Mudder adding new events in Italy, Poland, UAE, Brazil, Egypt and other international destinations to the 2019 calendar.
Founded in 2010 with the launch of the Tough Mudder obstacle course event series, Tough Mudder Inc. has become a leading global sports, active lifestyle and media brand. With over 3 million past participants, the company hosts more than 130 events annually in ten countries and six continents.
