KMD Brands Limited has announced the appointment of Carla Webb-Sear as group chief financial officer, marking another leadership change for the outdoor and surf brand company that owns Rip Curl, Oboz, and Kathmandu.
Webb-Sear will join the group executive team in the first week of August and report directly to group CEO and managing director Brent Scrimshaw, who joined the company in March. Her appointment follows an extensive global search, according to a news release.
Webb-Sear brings more than two decades of financial leadership across consumer, media, and technology sectors to KMD, according to a news release. Most recently, she was the chief financial and strategy officer of the loyalty division at Qantas, where she gained experience managing financial operations in a large-scale consumer business. She previously held roles at ViacomCBS, Enero Group, and Fairfax.
“After an extensive global search, I’m thrilled to welcome Carla Webb-Sear to KMD Brands,” Scrimshaw said in a statement. “Carla’s expertise and proven track record of unlocking value, agile transformation and disciplined financial management will be invaluable as we navigate a dynamic global market. I look forward to partnering with Carla to deliver long-term value for shareholders.”
Scrimshaw thanked interim CFO Ben Washington, who will step into the deputy CFO role.
Webb-Sear will relocate from Sydney to be based at KMD’s global headquarters in Melbourne, Australia. Her start date is Monday, Aug. 4.
“I’m excited to be joining KMD Brands at this pivotal moment in its journey,” Webb-Sear said in a statement. “There’s a clear opportunity to drive transformative growth and deliver impactful results across the portfolio. I’m looking forward to working closely with the board and executive team to accelerate the group’s global strategy.”
Ongoing Leadership Transformation at KMD
Webb-Sear’s appointment represents the latest change in KMD’s leadership structure, which has been actively refreshing its executive team across multiple levels and brands as it works to mitigate the impact of tariffs on its business.
Scrimshaw took over as group CEO from Michael Daly, who had led the company through its transition from Kathmandu Holdings to KMD Brands following the acquisition of Rip Curl in 2019.
KMD brand Rip Curl recently appointed Nike veteran Ashley Reade as CEO. The company has also made strategic hires in regional operations, including the addition of Heather Sweeney as VP of finance for KMD Brands North America in July 2025.
