Black Diamond Equipment Appoints Neil Fiske As Brand President

Black Diamond, Equipment, Ltd., a leading manufacturer and distributor of innovative, high performance outdoor equipment, apparel, and footwear, and a subsidiary of Clarus Corporation (NASDAQ: CLAR) (“Clarus” and/or the “Company”), has appointed Neil Fiske to the role of Brand President.

Fiske will be responsible for accelerating growth and lifting profitability by capitalizing on attractive expansion opportunities across various categories, channels and regions. He joins Black Diamond® from Marquee Brands, a leading brand accelerator with a portfolio of 13 brands. As a CEO for almost 20 years, he has extensive experience in the outdoor, active, and apparel categories, having led transformational change at Marquee Brands (including Dakine and Body Glove), Eddie Bauer, Billabong International, the Gap, and L Brands. An avid outdoorsman and experienced mountaineer, Fiske brings deep expertise in building brands, driving innovation, and improving operational performance.

Clarus Executive Chairman Warren Kanders commented: “We are thrilled to have someone of Neil’s experience and talent leading Black Diamond, a brand we believe has tremendous growth potential globally. Neil fully appreciates the brand’s fifty-year heritage, its culture, and core values, but also the need to modernize and look forward. With this appointment, we look forward to building Black Diamond to its fullest potential.”

After leading the successful turnaround of the Bath and Body Works division of L Brands, Fiske became the CEO of Eddie Bauer where he brought the heritage brand back to its outdoor roots. Notably, he conceived and launched the highly successful First Ascent line using an innovative process driven by a world class team of guides, athletes and mountain professionals. The expedition-grade line proved to be a major catalyst in revitalizing Eddie Bauer’s position as an authentic outdoor outfitter.

Fiske then took over as CEO of Billabong International as part of a rescue and recapitalization turnaround program. Under his leadership, Billabong revamped its product line, marketing, digital channels, and operations under a strategy of “global brands on global platforms,” which resulted in significant share gain for the company’s biggest brands. Fiske continued his leadership in the active/outdoor sector as CEO of Marquee brands, which owns Dakine and Body Glove.

Fiske commented, “When your life in outdoor adventures depends quite literally on the gear you choose, you form a lasting bond with those types of brands. That’s certainly been my experience as a user of Black Diamond. I’ve long admired their uncompromising standard to be the best at what they do. It comes from the brand’s long-standing ethos Founder Peter Metcalf established from the beginning – ‘to be one with the sports we serve and absolutely indistinguishable from them.’ We will honor and build on that legacy as we shape it for the future. I couldn’t be more excited to be part of the team that will take this revered brand to new heights — for our customers, retail partners, employees, suppliers, and investors, it’s going to be a great climb.”

Fiske received his BA from Williams College and MBA from Harvard University. His work has received numerous industry awards for product innovation, marketing, and brand building.