Former VF Canada Executive Named Head Of Eddie Bauer

Sparc Group, a full-service lifestyle brand operating company, today announced that Tim Bantle will join the company as the CEO of Eddie Bauer. Bantle is an accomplished and results-driven leader with more than two decades of experience in outdoor retail, technical apparel and equipment development and omnichannel retail. In his new role, Bantle will chart the next phase of Eddie Bauer’s growth journey. Bantle will report to Marc Miller, CEO of Sparc Group, and will be based in Seattle, WA.

For more than 100 years, outdoor brand Eddie Bauer has been inspiring, enabling and empowering people to live their adventure with products that are built to last. Bantle will amplify the brand’s ethos and mission for broader audiences and reinforce its commitment to achieving its sustainability goals by connecting Eddie Bauer’s people, purpose and business priorities across digital and traditional channels.

“I admire Eddie Bauer for its unwavering commitment to making the outdoors accessible to all through excellent product and authentic storytelling,” said Bantle. “The team has done an incredible job driving global momentum for Eddie Bauer, and I am looking forward to working closely with them to introduce new audiences to the brand and broader outdoor lifestyle. Eddie Bauer has distinctive origins in the Pacific Northwest, and I am passionate about finding new ways to parlay elements of its unique and rich heritage into outdoor culture far and wide.”

Bantle has honed his expertise for more than 20 years in diverse executive roles at several industry-leading outdoor companies. Most recently, he was GM of VF Canada, where he led the company’s local outdoor and action sports platform. Prior to VF Canada, Bantle held leadership positions at The North Face, Black Diamond Equipment and Patagonia. He has led the launches of transformative category-defining and best-selling products for alpine, ski and outdoor exploration, as well as pioneering fashion and streetwear collaborations. While at The North Face, Bantle also guided the acceleration of the brand’s sustainability efforts, which included a focus on circularity with the introduction of recycled and regenerative textiles.

“Tim is a proven industry leader and an outdoor brand champion,” said Miller. “He brings a unique understanding of the outdoor consumer paired with deep technical knowledge that translates into commercial success. I am excited about the future of Eddie Bauer and am confident the brand will thrive under Tim’s leadership.”