Mountain Hardwear president resigns

Topher Gaylord, brand president of Mountain Hardwear Inc., the outdoor apparel subsidiary of Columbia Sportswear Co., has resigned. Gaylord's departure comes as Mountain Hardwear's sales have seen a sharp decline. Scott Kerslake has been named interim brand president as the search begins for a permanent brand president.

While Kerslake is only interim president, he is still expected to be able to turn the brand around. In a statement, the company said Kerslake has a "long track record of building strong brands and strong brand-centric organizations, including as cofounder and [chief executive officer] of the Athleta brand from 1997 to 2004, and as ceo of the Prana brand since 2009.” Kerslake will still retain his current CEO role at Prana while serving as Mountain Hardwear's interim president.

In a statement, Columbia Sportswear Inc. President Bryan Timm said, "Mountain Hardwear remains one of our most promising brands. We will be looking for a proven leader who understands the high performance demands of Mountain Hardwear’s consumers and who can help the brand realize that potential."