Leatherman Tool Group (Leatherman), the renowned American-made brand known for its high-quality multipurpose products, announces the appointment of Kris Hamper as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2026. Hamper succeeds Ben Rivera, who will be evolving his role within the company after serving as President and CEO for 13 years.
A Leatherman veteran of more than a decade, Hamper has served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer since 2012. In partnership with Rivera, he has guided the company through transformative growth, playing a pivotal role in advancing global operations, expanding categories and scaling new products.
Rivera, who joined Leatherman in 1991 as an engineer, became President and CEO in 2013. Over his 34-year career with the company, he has been a central figure in shaping Leatherman’s product portfolio, including the creation of the brand’s most recognized and best-selling Wave® Plus multi-tool. Rivera will continue to play an instrumental role in the brand’s future by piloting innovation through the Leatherman Garage, the in-house incubator launched by the brand in 2022 to test new features, materials and manufacturing techniques through limited-run product drops.
“Ben’s leadership has been a catalyst for Leatherman’s growth and evolution. We’re grateful for his contributions and fully support his move into a role that lets him focus on innovation as his true passion,” said Tim Leatherman. “We’re confident Kris will do an amazing job as the next leader of our company, and we look forward to what’s ahead in the Leatherman story.”
Kris Hamper adds, “I’m grateful to Ben for his steady leadership, the strong foundation he’s built, and the example he’s set for all Leatherman team members over the years. As I step into this role, I remain committed to advancing Leatherman’s legacy of quality, continuous innovation, and craft, while continuing to grow our global reach and impact.”
