VF Corp. is splitting up its Outdoor Americas division into two new divisions, Outdoor Americas and Action Sports Americas, effective February 1.  Steve Rendle, president of The North Face, will become president of the new Outdoor Americas coalition, which will include The North Face, JanSport and Eagle Creek. Stephen Murray, president of Vans, will oversee the Action Sports coalition, which will include Vans and Reef.


Dave Gatto, current president of VF Outdoor America, is leaving the company.
Eric Wiseman, VF’s chairman and chief executive officer, said the move was made “to align our coalition structure to best capture future opportunities in these industries.”


Rendle, who will continue to be based in San Leandro, CA, joined The North Face in 1999 and was promoted to VP sales in August 2000 and named president of the brand in July 2004.


Murray has been with Vans since 1998 and its president since the brand was acquired by VFC in 2004. He will continue to be based in Cypress, CA. VF said Vans has “shown tremendous growth” since being acquired.
Overseas, VF promoted Martino Scabbia Guerrini, currently president – VF International Sportswear and Packs, to president – Sportswear and Contemporary Brands EMEA coalition, another new VF coalition. In addition to continuing to lead Kipling, Napapijri and Eastpak, he will also oversee the expansion of the 7 For All Mankind in EMEA.


In an interview with Sports Executive Weekly at the recent Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, Rendle said that there were no immediate plans to name a successor to lead The North Face, but left open the possibility that that may happen over time.  Despite the coalition split, he said the brand is still committed to expanding into action sports, but will focus on the mountain rather than skate as Vans does.  When asked if the departure of Gatto, who was considered a key M&A figure within the organization, Mr. Rendle said that acquisitions are still very much a part of the future for the outdoor coalition.