Kent Outdoors, a watersports and ski equipment manufacturer that moved its headquarters to Summit County from Ohio last year, has named Randy Hales as its new CEO.
Hales brings decades of consumer product experience to Kent Outdoors, having held executive positions in several high-growth companies, including serving as CEO at Next Level Apparel; CEO at ZAGG Inc.; and CEO of Back to Basics, a kitchen appliances manufacturer.
Hales serves on the board of directors of the Boise State University Foundation, volunteers with the Make-a-Wish Foundation and is a National Association of Corporate Directors fellow.
“We’re honored to have Randy take the helm as CEO. His appointment marks a significant milestone for Kent Outdoors as we focus on building the brands and positioning the company for future growth,” said Kent Executive Chairman Lee Belitsky. “He brings a transformative leadership style and deep consumer product experience in both direct-to-consumer and business-to-business environments. The combination of his professional background and personal passion for the outdoors make Randy an ideal match for Kent’s brand portfolio.”
“I’m excited and honored to be joining the Kent team,” said Hales. “Kent has an incredibly strong portfolio of brands and a track record for adapting to market changes, driving new product innovation and leveraging the growing consumer interest in outdoor recreation. It’s an exciting time as the company is positioned for continued growth and market leadership.”
Founded in 1959 in New London, Ohio, Kent Outdoors is a diverse platform of outdoor brands with a product base that includes personal flotation devices, wakeboards, water skis, towable tubes, snowboards and other products.