SEATTLE (BRAIN) — REI Co-op CEO and President Eric Artz announced Wednesday morning that he will retire at the end of March and will be succeeded by former co-op board director Mary Beth Laughton.
Artz, who has been CEO and president since 2019, will aid in the leadership transition when Laughton joins REI on Feb. 3 from Nike, where she led its global retail and digital D2C business.
"I would like to thank Eric on behalf of the board for his service," said Chris Carr, REI board of directors chair, in an email to co-op members and employees. "REI is in a strong position today because he always kept our purpose, values, and people as his north star. Since joining REI in 2012, he carried forward the long traditions of the co-op while pushing us to embrace new opportunities.
"As CEO since 2019, Eric has been a true steward, navigating some of the most challenging times in retail and our industry. Through it all, he put the co-op first and never lost sight of harnessing our co-operative spirit to do what's right for the planet, our people, and the long-term health of the outdoors."
Laughton previously was CEO of Athleta, a certified B Corp, leading the company through a period of significant revenue growth, according to Carr. Earlier in her career, she ran Sephora's North America stores and digital, with a focus on customer experience and operations.
"As we look to the future, I am confident that Mary Beth has the right experience to lead REI into its next chapter," Carr wrote. "She is a highly accomplished and innovative retail and digital leader, known for her collaborative approach and steadfast dedication to aligning business success with purpose and values. As an avid hiker, she has a deep passion for the outdoors and believes strongly in the role that nature has in grounding us mentally and physically."
The leadership change comes two weeks after REI announced it was closing its Experiences division that includes adventure travel, day tours, and classes. The move eliminated 428 full- and part-time jobs in that division.
