PROJECTS
"You cannot create experience. You must undergo it"
~ Albert Camus
REI - DVP Product Design and Development
REI was interested in tapping into the design philosophy and process of the design consultancies (e.g. IDEO, Frog) and adapting aspects of their approach to design in its Private (REI) Brands organization.
The successful candidate spent his career with design leaders like RKS and Kaleidoscope before launching Smart's San Francisco office. He was also a self-described "huge outdoor geek," and had been an REI co-op member for years.
Manduka - Vice President of Product
Manduka was well-established as the leading choice in yoga mats (and a strong contender in props and accessories). The brand was looking to leverage its success into yoga apparel, and needed a seasoned apparel executive who could define the opportunity and create an offering that spoke to Manduka's brand identity and equity.
After a short time on the retail side (Saks, GAP, Mervyns), the finalist honed her craft at The North Face, Athleta, and other brands in progressive roles in apparel merchandising and design leadership. She was recruited from Champion's C9 business. Yoga is a significant part of her personal life.
Icebreaker - Multiple Positions
The Whiting Group was contacted by Icebreaker during a time of transition - the brand was moving its North American headquarters out of Ketchum, Idaho. The Whiting Group consulted on location options (the brand moved to Portland) and over the next four years recruited 11 executives into both the North American and Global organization. Positions filled included Global VP Marketing (Wellington NZ), Global VP Product, North American President, Vice President of Sales, Controller US and numerous merchandising, design and development positions.
Marmot Mountain - Multiple Positions
Marmot is The Whiting Group's longest-standing client - sustaining a relationship based on performance through multiple owners of the brand. Candidates have been placed in Marmot's Global HQ and in Europe, in General Management, Sales (VP & others), Product (VP & others), DC Operations, Retail Operations and Ecommerce . The Whiting Group's first placement just celebrated his 14 year anniversary with Marmot.
Skullcandy - Multiple Positions
During it's meteoric rise Skullcandy had an insatiable appetite for talent, and candidates from the Action Sports Industry were lined up for a chance to join the brand. Working directly with the CEO, The Whiting Group conducted Skullcandy's "mission-critical" searches, including individuals who led the brand's international expansion and its move into big box and mass retail. Our last search focused on talent management as the brand turned its focus inward in an effort to sustain its success.
Traeger Pellet Grills - VP Marketing
While Traeger is arguably not within the "guardrails" of the industries that The Whiting Group serves, Traeger's new owner and CEO had been Skullcandy's CEO and contacted The Whiting Group to bring in a strong marketing leader to build a marketing organization and to steer Traeger's marketing effort from it's traditional word-of-mouth into a strategic and media-savvy marketer
The successful candidate needed to understand and know how to connect effectively with Traeger's consumer - the finalist joined Traeger from Harley Davidson motorcycles, where he had worked in advertising and promotions for the brands Outreach initiatives before taking over integrated marketing for a $ 1 billion division of Harley Davidson. He was also a passionate "foodie."
Fischer Skis USA - CEO, US
Fischer Skis global CEO contacted The Whiting Group to recruit a US President to lead a transition from a distribution arrangement to the establishment of a US subsidiary. The Whiting Group recruited an up-and-coming leader from the ski industry. Then when that candidate was recruited away from Fischer by a competitive brand less than 12 months later, The Whiting Group conducted the replacement search.
While there were a number of traditional candidates (resumes "checked off the boxes"), the finalist demonstrated a vision and a level of passion that led the Whiting Group to advocate strongly on his behalf. His hire has proven to be game-changing for the brand.
Camelbak - VP Operations & Sourcing
The Whiting Group was contacted by then-owner Bear Stearns - Camelbak had been growing rapidly and its operational infrastructure had not been keeping pace, creating an area of high risk to the brand. The Whiting Group was retained to recruit a Vice President of Operations and Sourcing who could bring operational best practices to the organization and bring Camelbak's
The Whiting Group located the finalist just a few miles from Camelbak's HQ in Petaluma, CA, a notoriously high cost-of-living area. He joined Camelbak from Motorola, having spent a large part of his career with Apple Computer, as well as Dell Computer, Texas Instruments and The Trane Company. He just celebrated his 11th anniversary with Camelbak.