Who’s on the move: Molly Cuffe at Smartwool, Philip Sande at Point6, Lee Lemon at Talus Outdoor Technologies, and more…

• Boreas, a specialty backpack and adventure travel gear company, recently hired BFelse Sales, headed up by Brian Felse and Ryan Thompson, as its sales representation for Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming. BFelse Sales also represents Teva, Boardworks and Ruffwear.

• Point6, makers of premium merino wool socks and headed up by Peter and Patty Duke, recently promoted Philip Sande to international sales director. As Point6 continues to expand its market share both in North America and abroad, Sande will retain his current role as Canadian general manager, in addition to taking on greater responsibilities to manage and grow the company’s international sales channels. A Montreal native, Sande has served as Canadian general manager since the brand’s debut in 2008.

• Smartwool recently promoted a few team members. Glenn Airoldi was promoted to North American marketing director from director of e-commerce. Molly Cuffe was promoted to senior manager global brand communications from global brand communication manager.

• Backbone Media recently hired Danielle Gravalsky, a 12-year veteran of Rodale Inc., who will play a pivotal role in strengthening market and brand research for Backbone’s 35 category-leading clients. Grivalsky joins Backbone after serving as the marketing research director for Men’s Health and Women’s Health for 12 years. Previously, she worked as a marketing manager for Rolling Stone, Men’s Journal and US Magazine and has valuable knowledge of Market Research Insight, the industry-standard for syndicated research.

• Darby Communications recently announced Amy Williams as its newest team member. Her understanding of the outdoor industry, customer relations experience and her Southern charm will serve her well in her new position of account support. Williams hails from leading Asheville, N.C., retailer Diamond Brand Outdoors, where she worked extensively in the apparel and pack departments and led their women’s only hiking group.

• Big Agnes Inc., which specializes in sleeping bags, pads and tents, recently announced several staff and warehouse expansion steps aimed at addressing the company’s growing sales and distribution. Key staff changes and additions include the promotion of Rose Alford to dealer services manager. The company has also expanded its warehouse and office space to meet the needs of its retailers and staff.Kellie Nelson moves from customer service to dealer services representative for the Southeast, Northeast and Midwest territories. Also joining the dealer services team in a new position is Anna Hall, who will provide support for both pro and retail sales categories. Formerly in North American dealer services, Tanya Whitehouse will move to manage international dealer services. New hires in other departments include Rob Peterson and Sarah Uhl. Peterson, who formerly managed Boa Technology’s sponsored ambassador program, joins the customer services team. Uhl, who formerly managed in-house events and wholesale relations at New Belgium Brewing, will join the marketing team in the newly created role of marketing coordinator.

• Montana Fly Company recently announced Jake Chutz as the national sales manager in the United States. Chutz is in charge of strengthening the national sales team, working directly with independent sales reps across the country as well as in-house accounts. Building on his experience as a fishing guide and gear expert, Chutz’s position reaches beyond traditional sales duties. He will help strengthen the product design process, including beta testing strategy to ensure innovative, competitive and high quality products are brought to market. A long-time guide at TroutHunter on the Henry’s Fork, he spent the last 11 years guiding in Montana, Idaho and Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina.

• Amer Sports and Suunto recently announced the promotion of Jean-Yves Couput to the position of global marketing director for the Suunto brand. Couput has recently worked as global outdoor brand manager for Salomon and marketing director for Amer Sports Winter and Outdoor Americas, (ASWO), which includes Salomon USA, Suunto USA and Atomic USA. As the new global marketing director for Suunto, he will be a member of the worldwide Suunto management team reporting directly to Suunto President Mikko Moilanen.

• Talus Outdoor Technologies recently hired Lee Lemon as a national sales consultant.

• Gerber Legendary Blades recently announced the promotion of Joe Mattson to the position of senior brand manager. Mattson will be responsible for leading Gerber’s brand marketing team and corresponding activities within the company. A Washington state native and avid outdoorsman, Mattson holds a bachelor’s degree in English and American literature from Harvard University, and an MBA from the Lundquist School of Business at the University of Oregon. He joined Gerber in August 2011 as a category manager for the brand’s Essentials collection after successful tenures at the Seattle-based creative firm Creature and the marketing strategy and consultancy firm Relay Worldwide in New York City. 

• Klymit recently hired Tanner Allen as a sales account manager.

• Zuke’s, which specializes in all-natural, performance-driven pet treats, recently welcomed Marta Magness as the natural and outdoor channel national sales manager. Magness brings more than 20 years experience in grocery and wellness, as well as a passion for animals and the outdoors. Magness started as an independent business consultant in the grocery and wellness industries, representing several natural product lines and helping grow national sales in the natural channel for new brands. She spent two years as a natinoal sales manager for Healthnotes Inc., a computer-based, wellness-driven marketing platform, where she managed more than 250 existing web accounts and more than 1,000 independent retail accounts and prospects. She later helped manage Chocolove and NextFood Inc.

• Footbalance recently hired Jeremy Town as its new vice president of finance. Town comes to Footbalance and from Amer Sports.

Have news of a new hire or promotion within the outdoor industry? Let us know at news@snewsnet.com



–Compiled by Ana Trujillo