Market-leading pack brand Osprey Packs Inc. has completed the acquisition of Osprey Europe Ltd.
Established by Rob Wylie in 2003, Osprey Europe has become a key player in the European Outdoor market, operating in over 30 countries, and now the number one pack brand.
Rob Wylie has announced that he will leave the business at the end of March 2019 after 16 years at the helm, passing the reins to Jonathan Petty, currently Marketing Director, who is appointed as its new Managing Director for Europe.
Commenting on his decision, Rob Wylie said “It’s been my privilege to work with some truly great people at Osprey. Building the team alongside building the brand and company has been the most rewarding aspect of my 16 years.
“Along the way we’ve shared mostly ups and occasionally some downs, but regardless we always tried to enjoy the journey together. For me that journey now comes to an end, but I’m sure with such solid foundations the growth and opportunities will continue to flow for Osprey across Europe.”
Layne Rigney, President of Osprey Packs Inc. said: “Everyone at Osprey would like to thank Rob for the outstanding 16 years spent nurturing the Osprey brand in Europe. He has built the brand and business from scratch to its current position as the number one pack brand in Europe, a remarkable achievement. His legacy will be long-lasting, having developed an exceptional team, a high performance culture, and above all based on having fun. We wish him every happiness in the future.”
Following the announcement of Jonathan Petty as its new Managing Director for Europe, Layne Rigney said: “I am delighted to appoint Jonathan who brings over 20 years’ experience in the Outdoor industry. He has an outstanding track record of success in senior commercial roles at Patagonia, Salomon and Montane.
“As Marketing Director, he has transformed Osprey Europe marketing over the last two years. I am confident that Jonathan, along with our talented management team, will continue to drive our business forward. Rob and Jonathan will work together on the transition over the coming months, with Jonathan commencing his new role on 1st April 2019.”
Jonathan Petty said: “It is a fantastic opportunity to lead such an iconic brand as Osprey. I am extremely excited about the future of our company, taking the baton from such a well-respected industry leader as Rob Wylie, and building upon the incredibly strong foundations the Osprey brand has across Europe.
“Our dynamic teams are committed more than ever to strengthening relationships with our retailers, deepening engagement with consumers, and further enhancing our market leading position”.”
Sales Director Tom Entwistle takes a newly created role of VP Sales and Product EMEA.
After over a decade at Osprey Europe, Entwistle said: “It’s a huge privilege to work with the product and people at Osprey, I’m looking forward to applying an even greater focus on our closest retail partners and the development of product to catalyse our continued growth.”
The Sales Team has been further strengthened with a new Head of Sales, Luke Barton, who held senior Sales positions at The North Face and Wolverine. In addition, Christoph Schwer is appointed Sales Manager for Germany, joining the team after eight years at Columbia.
