Mary Beth Laughton of Portland was selected the co-op’s next CEO by REI this week, making her the most recent Nike executive to secure a senior position at another business.
Laughton will take over for retiring Eric Artz.
Laughton has been in charge of Nike’s direct-to-consumer division since 2023, managing sales via the company’s websites, applications, and physical shops. She was the CEO of the clothing company Athleta before. She has also held positions on a number of boards, including REIs.
In a news statement, she stated that no other business strikes the same mix between performance and purpose as REI, and that we must make sure it continues to prosper for many generations to come. I accept that enormous duty with the deepest respect for our millions of members and the thousands of workers whose in-depth knowledge and love of the outdoors make the co-op unique.
Established in 1938, REI has had a challenging few years. In 2023, the merchant of outdoor gear suffered its second year of severe losses, losing $311 million. In 2024, it aimed to break even.
It declared last month that it will shut down its travel division.
Laughton is the most recent Nike executive to land a high-level position at a different business. Sean Tresvant, the CEO of Taco Bell, spent fifteen years at Nike. For 17 years, Hoka President Robin Green was employed at Nike.
On February 3, Laughton, a Harvard Business School MBA graduate, begins serving as president of REI. On March 31, she will take over as CEO.
She is anticipated to relocate to the Seattle region, where REI is headquartered, according to the Seattle Times.
Matthew Kish covers business, notably the banking and sportswear sectors. You can reach him at @matthewkish, [email protected], or 503-221-4386.
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