John Fernsell steps down as Ibex CEO, Ted Manning takes over

John Fernsell, co-founder and former CEO of Ibex, has stepped down.

Ibex has appointed Ted Manning, formerly of Eastern Mountain Sports, to replace Fernsell.

A company spokesperson said they could not go into the details of why Fernsell left. A message seeking more information from Fernsell was not returned Friday evening.

Manning (photo, left), who had an 18-year career with Eastern Mountain Sports, has taken over the role of CEO, effective immediately. He was previously the executive vice president of EMS, where he started his sales career back in 1989 and eventually worked as a technical sports buyer in 2000 after he graduated college.

Both Manning and company officials remained mum on Fernsell, but Manning did say he is looking forward to this next professional move.

Fernsell co-founded Ibex in 1997 and championed domestic manufacturing for many years, something Manning has vowed to continue. According to company officials, Ibex will continue its work on the “Field to Factory” domestic manufacturing program.

“Working with U.S.-based factories is very gratifying,” Fernsell told SNEWS in this story. “It’s more hand-on. You need to be more involved in the process, and it takes more capital investment. It is a real commitment.”

Manning is looking forward to getting to work.

“One of the things I am excited about is the opportunity to work with the Ibex crew,” Manning wrote to SNEWS. “They are a talented and fun group of people.”

In addition, Manning wrote, he’s eager to learn more about the ins and outs of the Ibex business and prepare the company for a strong fourth-quarter. Plus, he said, he’s diving right in with the Ibex product team to begin work on 2015 assortments.

“This is a really great brand and an even better group of people,” Manning said. “They have worked hard to create and drive Ibex to where it is right now. My joining the team is a chance for all of us to ignite this business and have a blast doing it.”