Seattle — REI Co-op’s president and CEO, Eric Artz, will retire in March as part of a planned succession, marking a new chapter in the co-op’s 87-year history. Mary Beth Laughton, a former REI board director and seasoned retail leader, will join REI as president on Feb. 3, 2025, before assuming full CEO responsibilities on March 31.
Laughton has held leadership roles at Nike, Athleta and Sephora. Her experience and personal passion balance strategic vision for the future of retail, innovation and operational rigor, love for the outdoors and appreciation for the co-op’s unique culture. During the planned handover period, Laughton will be out on the road and in stores and distribution centers, building connections with employees, partners and community members.
“Eric has led and stabilized REI through some of the most challenging years the retail sector and our co-op ever faced,” says Chris Carr, chair of the REI board of directors. “REI is in a strong position today because he always kept our purpose, values, and people as his north star. Mary Beth has the ideal experience to build on this foundation and to lead REI forward into our next chapter. The world needs a strong REI, and we are confident Mary Beth will hit the ground running.”
REI is a specialty outdoor retailer, headquartered near Seattle.
SOURCE: REI Co-op