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PORTLAND, Ore., March 1, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Columbia Sportswear Company (Nasdaq:COLM), a global leader in active outdoor apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment, announced today the appointment of Topher Gaylord as president of its wholly owned subsidiary Mountain Hardwear, Inc. As president of Mountain Hardwear, Inc., Gaylord will be responsible for product creation, global sales and marketing of Mountain Hardwear-brand apparel, accessories & equipment, and for global sales and marketing of Montrail-brand trail-running footwear. He will report to Mick McCormick, Columbia Sportswear's executive vice president of global sales and marketing and will relocate to Mountain Hardwear's Richmond, California headquarters, replacing Kirk Richardson who has served as interim president since November 2009.

Gaylord, 40, brings 20 years of executive experience and personal passion in the outdoor industry. He joined The North Face in 1993, rising to serve as managing director of the company's EMEA region from 2000 to 2005 and as president of VF Corporation's Outdoor & Action Sports International brands, including The North Face, Vans, Reef and Jansport, from 2006 through September 2008. Gaylord has served as president of 7 For All Mankind within VF's Contemporary Brands coalition since October 2008.
"Topher is one of those rare individuals who knows what it takes to build performance-based global brands," said Tim Boyle, president and CEO of Columbia Sportswear. "We believe our Mountain Hardwear and Montrail brands, with combined 2009 sales of approximately $110 million, will benefit greatly from Topher's leadership, knowledge, and global experience."

Over the course of his career, Gaylord has been responsible for all aspects of brand positioning and management, product design, merchandising and development, marketing, sales, establishment of multiple go-to-market business models around the world, including wholesale, direct-to-consumer, distributor, and licensing, as well as the successful integration of numerous acquired brands. He has extensive experience working in multi-cultural environments in Europe, Asia and North America, building strong business relationships that have resulted in sustained, profitable growth.

"I am energized by the opportunity to lead Mountain Hardwear," said Gaylord.   "As a dedicated ultra runner and outdoor athlete, I have always admired Mountain Hardwear and Montrail products and appreciate the authenticity and integrity with which each brand has pursued its passion to serve the high-performance needs of outdoor athletes and consumers. I believe both brands offer rich possibilities for growth as we capitalize on their global potential."

Interim president Kirk Richardson will assist with Gaylord's integration and then return to Portland, Oregon to resume his prior position as Columbia Sportswear's general manager of footwear merchandising. "We are indebted to Kirk for serving as interim president at Mountain Hardwear and look forward to welcoming him back to Columbia," said Boyle.

About Columbia Sportswear Company
Columbia Sportswear Company is a global leader in the design, sourcing, marketing and distribution of active outdoor apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment. Founded in 1938 in Portland, Oregon, Columbia products are sold in more than 100 countries and have earned an international reputation for innovation, quality and performance. Columbia products feature innovative technologies and designs that protect outdoor enthusiasts from the elements, increase comfort, and make outdoor activities more enjoyable. In addition to the Columbia brand, Columbia Sportswear Company also owns outdoor brands Mountain Hardwear®, Sorel®, Montrail®, and Pacific Trail®. To learn more, please visit the company's websites at www.columbia.com, www.mountainhardwear.com, www.sorel.com, and www.montrail.com. 

About Mountain Hardwear:
Mountain Hardwear, Inc. makes cutting edge mountaineering and outdoor equipment, apparel and accessories for ultimate performance in extreme conditions. Established in 1993 by a group of outdoor industry veterans, Mountain Hardwear is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Columbia Sportswear Company based in Richmond, Calif. Mountain Hardwear distributes its products through specialty outdoor and sporting goods retailers throughout the United States and over 40 countries worldwide. Mountain Hardwear has won numerous product and customer service awards since its inception, reflecting the company's commitment and passion toward innovation. It's our relentless drive to create the absolute best that makes us who we are. Mountain Hardwear. PERFORMANCE ELEVATED™. www.mountainhardwear.com

Chris Strasser at Mountain Hardwear/Montrail passed on the new job opening below, which sounds like a great opportunity for somebody who wants to work in the industry. The job is located in Richmond, CA - go here to apply online.

- SD

Promotions Coordinator, Mountain Hardwear/Montrail

General Position Summary:

Develop and execute Montrail event programs, athlete sponsorships and promotional programs to effectively increase awareness of the Montrail brand and strengthen the Montrail image. Support the Promotions Project Manager in all areas of operations with a focus on the Montrail Brand. Contribute to the development and implementation of promotions strategies for all product lines.

Essential Functions/Major Responsibilities:

Coordinate and execute all Montrail sponsored events. Manage preparation, direct all onsite activities and evaluate effectiveness of event. Programs may be on the local, regional, national or international levels. Travel on the behalf of Montrail to all events.

Manage Montrail athlete team. Serve as key contact with involved parties to ensure sponsorship commitments are fulfilled. Coordinate all team uniforms. Execute programs to promote Montrail athletes, which may include but are not limited to photo shoots and other grassroots efforts.

Develop and execute other grassroots promotional programs to increase Montrail brand awareness.

Assist Promotions Project Manager with Mountain Hardwear events, athletes and other promotional programs. Process all sponsorship requests (event, athlete, and other promotional) including organizing, evaluating and screening in-coming requests and presenting findings. Travel on the behalf of Mountain Hardwear to appropriate events and sponsorships.

Assist in content generation for the Mountain Hardwear and Montrail consumer sites and blogs. Identify possible blog entries and encourage Mountain Hardwear and Montrail athletes to post articles and photos.

Assist in the development of promotional budgets and overall budget tracking procedures for promotions marketing.

Collaborate and work closely with internal and external marketing partners.

Secondary Functions:

Coordinate activities/projects with marketing department to enhance and maintain overall brand image and marketing consistency.

Establish and maintain lines of communication with all Mountain Hardwear management, product managers, sales representatives, staff and other departments as well as appropriate external contacts in order to contribute to the smooth flow of information and efficient operation of the organization.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

Job Scope:

Job is frequently varied with a moderate degree of complexity. Incumbent follows some established practices and procedures and occasionally contributes to the development of new ones. Duties are performed with moderate supervision or directions and work is checked or verified sometimes visually and/or by results. Decisions are made within general policy guidelines. Errors can adversely affect the smooth and efficient operation of the department and the use of its resources.


Supervisory Responsibility:

This position is not supervisory at this time.


Interpersonal Contacts:

Contacts are normally made with others both inside and outside the organization. Internal contacts will include the Marketing Director, Promotions Project Manager, Retail Marketing Manager, other members of the Marketing department, Product Managers and other company employees. External contacts may include consumers, athletes, vendors, sales representatives and anyone involved in outside promotions and events. Interactions tend to focus on information exchange, problem solving, or giving and receiving directions. Contacts occasionally contain confidential/sensitive information. Incumbent often initiates contacts on his/her own by phone, email and the face-to-face interaction.


Specific Job Skills:


Possess excellent event and project management skills with ability to work under pressure, meet tight timelines and coordinate multiple tasks simultaneously. Strong organizational skills and attention to detail. Possess strong communications and writing skills. Ability to write standard business letters and edit as necessary. Mental ability to conduct interpersonal interactions with members of the public, vendors, sales reps, and other company personnel. Possess research and analysis capabilities with regard to promotions including but not limited to events, athletes, and consumer initiatives. Ability to operate independently and follow general guidelines. Ability to read, write, and speak English fluently. Must possess good working knowledge of Outlook, Word and Excel. Physical ability to use telephone, computer hardware/software including keyboard, type, sit and stand for extended periods of time, and occasionally lift/carry up to 50 pounds. Ability to travel worldwide on commercial transportation.

Education and/or Experience:

Bachelors degree or equivalent, preferably in marketing or a related field or equivalent work experience. 3+ years marketing experience with 2+ year’s event/promotional and/or outdoor industry marketing experience preferred.


Job Conditions:

Job may require hours that exceed 8 hours per day and/or 40 hours per week during peak season or rush projects. Job requires travel throughout the US, occasional weekend and evening meetings/travel and exposure to some physical hazards. Exposure to a computer CRT.