Farmington, Utah - Vista Outdoor Inc.'s (NYSE: VSTO) Board of Directors announced that Christopher T. Metz will serve as the company's chief executive officer, effective Oct. 9, 2017.
Metz will have responsibility for day-to-day operations of the company, and its entire brand portfolio. He will also serve as a member of the board of directors. During the company's second quarter board of directors meeting, the board will appoint a permanent chairman of the board and until that date, Michael Callahan will continue to serve as interim chairman, and Ambassador April Foley will continue to serve as lead independent director.
"The Board couldn't be more pleased that Chris is joining Vista Outdoor," said Callahan. "He has more than 25 years of experience leading consumer and industrial-based global businesses. Chris is highly strategic, operationally savvy, and has experience improving the performance of leading organizations. He is a motivational leader with broad experience in sales, marketing and operations. His capabilities will benefit Vista Outdoor as we continue our focus on building our brands, expanding our e-commerce presence, reducing inventory, and driving continuous improvement."
Metz was most recently the president and CEO of Arctic Cat from 2014 to 2017. From 2005 to 2014, he served as a managing director of Sun Capital Partners, Inc., a leading private equity firm. Prior to Sun Capital, Metz worked for Black & Decker from 1992 to 2005. During his tenure with the company, he was president of the Hardware and Home Improvement Group from 1999 to 2005, and held various leadership positions including president of Kwikset Corporation, president of Price Pfister, president of Baldwin Hardware, and general manager of European Professional Power Tools and Accessories, during which time he lived in Frankfurt, Germany.
Metz serves on the board of Acushnet Holdings Corporation (NYSE: GOLF). He holds a bachelor's degree in finance and marketing from the University of Delaware and earned a master of business administration degree from the Kenan Flagler School of Business, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is an avid hunter, angler and cyclist.
"I am thrilled to join the Vista Outdoor team," said Metz. "The company is a leader in outdoor sports and recreation products, with a unique and well-positioned portfolio of brands. I look forward to working with the talented employees as we leverage Vista Outdoor's capabilities to deliver innovative products, build upon strategic partnerships, improve performance, and drive shareholder value."
"The Board of Directors extends its appreciation to Mike for stepping into the interim CEO role and for working closely with the Company's strong team," said Ambassador Foley. "Mike has provided continuity throughout this transition and we, along with the employees at Vista Outdoor, are grateful for his service."