Sea Otter is in full swing and there are a lot of brands in attendance. But it’s the brand that isn’t in attendance that’s generating the most buzz. After appearing on site and setting up their tent, Kona Bicycles then tore down that same tent before the show even started. By the time we rolled into the venue on Wednesday at the end of our ride with Otso Bicycles, the space for Kona’s tent was already vacant (circled above).
The move is a head-scratcher for a number of reasons – the brand had just unveiled a new adventure bike as the show opened, and it seems like a strange move considering they had already paid to get their booth to the venue and set it up. However, the day after their mysterious exit, it was announced that Kona’s parent company, Kent Outdoors, had just appointed a new CFO. According to the press release, new CFO Rob Otto has experience “improving profitability and operational efficiencies along with managing integrations”. Conspicuously absent from the press release is any mention of Kona Bicycles.
We’ve poked around Sea Otter to find more details, but for now, no one is willing to make any sort of comment on the record. BRAIN reported earlier in the week that the company expected to have a “town hall” meeting on Thursday, which seems likely to have taken place, but without any further news. We’ll keep digging, but for now, the future of Kona remains up for interpretation.
PR From Kent Outdoors:
Executive Hire is Part of Company’s Strategic Investment in Leadership, Innovation and Operations
SALT LAKE CITY, April 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Kent Outdoors (“Kent” or the “Company”), which has been helping people in their pursuit of outdoor adventures for more than 60 years, is pleased to announce that it has added Rob Ottoto the company’s executive management team as the company’s chief financial officer. With an exemplary track record in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) space of improving profitability and operational efficiencies along with managing integrations, Otto brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the Kent team and portfolio of brands.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Rob Otto to the Kent team,” said Kent Executive Chairman Lee Belitsky. “He is an experienced leader who will help guide Kent as we actively pursue new opportunities.”
As a results-oriented finance leader, Otto has been recognized for his ability to rapidly interpret complex situations, formulate solutions, and make sound decisions. He possesses considerable experience implementing processes and business solutions that spur growth and improve operations and profitability.
Otto joins Kent after successfully completing the sale of RW Designs, where he served as the company’s chief financial officer and chief operating officer, a wholesale and direct-to-consumer business. Prior, Otto held CFO and COO executive leadership roles at multiple CPG companies such as Z Gallerie, Hudson Jeans, Seven For All Mankind, and Affliction Holdings.
“Kent possesses some of the most recognized names and brands in the industry and it is my goal to ensure the company remains an industry leader while enhancing operational capacity and processes to ensure our facilities and people are operating at their peak,” said Otto.
About Kent Outdoors
Founded in 1959 in New London, Ohio, Kent Outdoors is a diverse platform of outdoor brands with a broad product set spanning personal flotation devices, wakeboards, water skis, towable tubes, snowboards and more. The Company’s portfolio of more than 15 iconic brands comprises industry- leading names such as HO/Hyperlite, Connelly, O’Brien, Liquid Force, Onyx, Aquaglide, Barefoot/Fatsac, BOTE, and Arbor Snowboards (managed by agreement with the Arbor Collective), which have all contributed to the Company’s long-term success in serving a broad base of action sports participants of all ages and skill levels.
