MANUFACTURING
Topher Gaylord Leaves Mountain Hardwear
After five years on the job, Topher Gaylord is leaving his position as president of Mountain Hardwear, a mountaineering and outdoor equipment and clothing company in Richmond, Calif. It is a subsidiary of Columbia Sportswear Co., based in Portland, Ore.
Taking over as interim president will be Scott Kerslake, who will be on board while the company conducts a global search for a permanent brand leader to replace Gaylord, who resigned.
Currently, Kerslake is chief executive of the Prana yogawear brand, another Columbia Sportswear Co. subsidiary. He will retain his title at Prana while he serves as Mountain Hardwear’s interim president. Kerslake is also the co-founder of the Athleta brand, where he was the chief executive from 1997 to 2004.
For nearly two years, Gaylord served as president of 7 For All Mankind, a premium–blue jeans company based in Los Angeles, until his move to Mountain Hardwear. His other jobs included working at The North Face and serving as president of VF Corp.’s outdoor and action-sports international brands, including The North Face, Vans, Reef and Jansport.
