Key takeaways:
- Longtime SCARPA CEO Kim Miller is retiring and Jonathan Degenhardt, formerly of Deuter USA and Ortovox USA, will take his place.
- SCARPA has also promoted longtime employees Mark Mathews to chief commercial officer and Joe Higby to VP of finance and operations.
- Miller will work closely with Degenhardt to ensure a smooth transition and will retire early next year.
Italian mountain footwear brand SCARPA has appointed Jonathan Degenhardt CEO of its North American operation as longtime CEO Kim Miller prepares to retire early next year.
SCARPA has also promoted longtime employees Mark Mathews, VP of sales, to chief commercial officer, and VP of Finance Joe Higby to VP of finance and operations, according to a news release.
Degenhardt will join the company in mid-April and will work closely with Miller to ensure a smooth transition.
Degenhardt joins SCARPA from Deuter USA and Ortovox USA, where he was managing director for the last six years for the two EU-based brands. He brings more than 25 years of experience in the outdoor industry, from executive-level leadership to overseeing a marketing department, directing sales, coordinating operations and working in management in specialty outdoor retail. Degenhardt also has category experience across footwear, apparel and equipment. He previously worked in sales for SCARPA at the outset of its North American operation, based in Boulder, Colo., 20 years ago.
“Jonathan’s combination of experience and business acumen is really what made him the right candidate for this job,” said Stefano Trentin, co-CEO of SCARPA globally, which is based at the company’s headquarters and manufacturing center in Asolo, Italy. “His work in the industry is diverse, and it shows that he can lead at the executive level with the benefit of personal experience from all aspects of business.”
Mathews will continue to oversee sales and expand his duties to product category development, line planning, merchandising, market research and go-to-market strategy.
Higby’s responsibilities will grow to include operations for SCARPA North America, including oversight of supply chain and logistics, distribution and systems administration.
“Our strategy is not just hiring a new CEO for North America, but elevating longstanding members of our internal executive team to new positions to support the CEO,” Trentin said. “This will provide a strong foundation for growth based on institutional knowledge and continuity of company culture and brand values, while also adding a new perspective on how the business runs.”
Degenhardt said SCARPA’s approach to the transition will set the team up for future success.
“It feels like an ideal way to take on this responsibility,” Degenhardt said. “This is a category and a brand I love. Everything about the brand speaks to me — heritage, quality, performance, sustainability, innovation. My first climbing shoes were SCARPA, my first ski boots were SCARPA, so it really feels like coming home.”
Miller said Degenhardt is the right choice for the position and thanked SCARPA executives.
“Building SCARPA North America and being its leader for the last 20 years has been the greatest honor and privilege of my professional career,” Miller said. “I’m so grateful to the Parisotto family for this opportunity, and I’m incredibly proud of our company, our team, and what we have built together.”
“I want to express my sincere thanks to Kim for 20 years of partnership,” said Sandro Parisotto, chairman of SCARPA, in a statement. “In the process of expanding our presence in North America, he brought a high level of expertise and dedication, and a deep knowledge of the brand.”
