Kent Outdoors has named Randy Hales CEO of the company, which operates a portfolio of more than 15 brands including BOTE, Arbor Snowboards, Connelly and O’Brien.
Hales previously served as CEO at Next Level Apparel, which makes apparel blanks, kitchen appliance company Back to Basics, and mobile accessory company ZAGG Inc., where he was named Utah public company CEO of the year. Hales is on the Boise State Universtiy Foundation’s board of directors, volunteers with the Make-a-Wish Foundation, and is a National Association of Corporate Directors Fellow, according to a news release.
“I’m excited and honored to be joining the Kent team,” said Hales in a statement. “Kent has an incredibly strong portfolio of brands and a track record for adapting to market changes, driving new product innovation, and leveraging the growing consumer interest in outdoor recreation. It’s an exciting time as the company is positioned for continued growth and market leadership.”
The privately held Kent was founded in Ohio in 1959 as Kent Watersports. It moved its headquarters to Park City, Utah in October 2023. It sold Kona Bikes earlier this year following a strategic review to a group led by Kona’s founders, Dan Gerhard and Jake Helibron.
“His appointment marks a significant milestone for Kent Outdoors as we focus on building the brands and positioning the company for future growth,” said Kent Executive Chairman Lee Belitsky in a statement. “He brings a transformative leadership style and deep consumer product experience in both direct-to-consumer and business-to-business environments. The combination of his professional background and personal passion for the outdoors make Randy an ideal match for Kent’s brand portfolio.”
