Dan Nordstrom, OR CEO, promotes VP Alex Kutches to President

SEATTLE, Wash. (Aug. 3, 2011) – Dan Nordstrom, President and CEO of Outdoor Research, a leading, independent manufacturer of outdoor apparel and accessories, this week announced a restructuring that separates the roles of CEO and President. Effective immediately, Nordstrom steps into the role of CEO, and Alex Kutches, currently VP of Sales, will become President.

Since 2003, Outdoor Research has launched an extensive apparel division and grown its sales more than five-fold. With that growth comes the need to assess how best to structure the organization’s management, Nordstrom said.

Separating the roles of CEO and President will allow Nordstrom to focus on brand development, organizational development, and long-range strategy and planning. Kutches, meanwhile, will direct day-to-day operations and annual planning, with sales, product development and marketing, finance and operations all reporting to him.

“With added size comes added complexity and the need to manage increased levels of detail,” Nordstrom said. “One effect of our rapid growth is that it is forcing all of us here to think hard about the future and make sure we are prepared to continue the journey with all the necessary pieces in place to execute on all fronts with excellence.”

“We’ve spent much of the past year adding horsepower to our engine in terms of both new roles and infrastructure,” he said. “A critical component of that process, from my perspective, is the opportunity to separate the roles of CEO and President. This change will allow Alex to focus on all the internal activities associated with keeping the trains running on time and allow me to focus more singularly on where Outdoor Research is headed in the big picture. Dividing those responsibilities will make an enormous difference in the quality of our execution in all areas.”

The separation of the CEO and President roles follows announcements that Outdoor Research has added a number of newly created jobs in product development and other areas. Along with hiring for a new VP position overseeing product development and marketing, OR created five new management-level posts on its product development team, adding more product managers to oversee specific categories within the Outdoor Research line. It also added three newly created jobs in its sales and technology divisions aimed at providing superior customer service, support systems, and visual merchandising to Outdoor Research’s dealers.

About Outdoor Research

Based in Seattle, Wash., Outdoor Research designs and manufactures functional solutions for human-powered adventure. Outdoor Research offers technically innovative and superior apparel, headwear, handwear, gaiters, storage and shelter systems. Product testing and high-quality construction is backed up with OR’s Infinite Guarantee®. Outdoor Research enthusiastically supports the outstanding conservation, access, and educational efforts of a variety of organizations and encourages our customers to do the same. Outdoor Research – Designed by Adventure®.