Vista Outdoor Inc., based in Farmington, has named Christopher T. Metz as the company’s CEO. In a release, the company’s board of the directors said that the appointment became effective on Oct. 9. Metz will have responsibility for day-to-day operations of the company and will also serve as a member of the board of directors.
Vista also said during the company’s second-quarter board meeting, that the board will appoint a permanent chairman of the board and until that date, Michael Callahan will continue to serve as interim chairman and April Foley will continue to serve as lead independent director.
“The board couldn’t be more pleased that Chris is joining Vista Outdoor,” said Callahan. “He has over 25 years of experience leading consumer and industrial-based global businesses. Chris is highly strategic, operationally savvy and has experience improving the performance of leading organizations. He is a motivational leader with broad experience in sales, marketing and operations. His capabilities will benefit Vista Outdoor as we continue our focus on building our brands, expanding our e-commerce presence, reducing inventory and driving continuous improvement.”
Metz was most recently the president and CEO of Arctic Cat from 2014 to 2017. From 2005 to 2014, he served as a managing director of Sun Capital Partners Inc., a private equity firm. Prior to Sun Capital, Metz worked for Black & Decker from 1992 to 2005. Other leadership positions he has held include president of Kwikset Corp.; president of Price Pfister; president of Baldwin Hardware and general manager of European Professional Power Tools and Accessories in Frankfurt, Germany.
Metz holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and marketing from the University of Delaware and an MBA from the Kenan Flagler School of Business at University of North Carolina. He is an avid hunter, angler and cyclist.
“I am thrilled to join the Vista Outdoor team,” said Metz. “The company is a leader in outdoor sports and recreation products, with a unique and well-positioned portfolio of brands. I look forward to working with the talented employees as we leverage Vista Outdoor’s capabilities to deliver innovative products, build upon strategic partnerships, improve performance, and drive shareholder value.”
Vista Outdoor is a global designer, manufacturer and marketer of consumer products in the outdoor sports and recreation markets. The company operates in two segments, Outdoor Products and Shooting Sports, and has a portfolio of well-recognized brands.