Boardriders is bringing on a new Chief Operating Officer, the company told employees today.
Deborah Palmer Keiser most recently worked as President of Timbuk2, a bag company based in San Francisco. Before that, she worked in operations at companies such as Victoria’s Secret, Williams Sonoma, Gap, All Saints and others.
She also has a lot of experience in France, where she lived when she helped William Sonoma establish international operations. She stayed on in France with her family afterward and managed her own business.
Boardriders, of course, has a large operation in France.
Keiser starts with Boardriders on Dec. 13 and will be based in Huntington Beach, Calif. She expected to begin international travel in January to meet the global teams.
Colin Smith, a partner and team leader at Oaktree Capital, has been acting as interim COO for several months and will help Keiser transition into her new role.
