Salt Lake City, UT – Global skiing, climbing, mountain sports equipment and apparel maker Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd. has appointed John Walbrecht as President, effective today.

Walbrecht brings more than 30 years of executive leadership experience from several strong active outdoor brands.  Most recently, for the past six months he served as President and CEO of Mountain Hardwear. Prior to that, Walbrecht served as President and CEO of Fenix Outdoor, an international group of outdoor clothing and equipment brands. He has also served in senior leadership roles at Spyder Active Sports, Timberland, and Dr. Martens, among others.

Black Diamond Executive Chairman Warren B. Kanders commented,  “John is a seasoned industry veteran who brings a wealth of experience and leadership in the outdoor equipment and apparel space. Over the course of his 30-plus year career, he has provided the strategic vision to improve brand equity and drive growth for some of the industry’s most reputable and dynamic companies. Given his strong background, we look forward to leveraging his expertise and enthusiasm as we continue to grow Black Diamond Equipment.  I would like to thank Mark Ritchie, our outgoing President of Black Diamond Equipment for  his dedication and years of service.  Mark will be assisting John in his transition and working with the team in additional ways in the future.”

“I want to thank John for his intensity and leadership and, together with the rest of the management team, wish him success in his next adventure,” added Bryan Timm, President of Mountain Hardwear parent Columbia Sportswear Company.

Walbrecht holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Brigham Young University, a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from the University of Maryland and understudies in International Trade and Finance at Cambridge University – Trinity College.

“It is truly an honor to be joining the Black Diamond team,” said Walbrecht. “Black Diamond is an amazing brand with a strong culture in both the outdoor and climbing  communities and prides itself on delivering technical precision in everything it does.   Black Diamond has a very bright future and I am excited to be a part of it.”