Outdoor Voices names Gabrielle Conforti as new CEO

By

Gabriella Lacombe

Published
Feb 26, 2021

Direct-to-consumer activewear brand Outdoor Voices has named Urban Outfitters alum Gabrielle Conforti as its new chief executive officer.

In the role, Conforti "will build on the company’s momentum, having recently become profitable, and give Outdoor Voices a leader who is passionate about the mission, the products, and the Recreationalist community to carry the company into the future," the company said in a press release. She will be focused on creating new products, building on the brand’s 'Recreationalist' community, and architecting the future vision of the brand. 

Bringing more than 15 years of retail and apparel industry experience, Conforti spent the last six years at Urban Outfitters, where she has held senior management roles including chief merchandising officer and president. During her time with Urban Outfitters, she led the development and execution of brand strategies and businesses and helped to launch several new product categories, including home, beauty, wellness and active. Prior to Urban Outfitters, she worked at J.Crew, overseeing merchandising and buying across multiple categories.

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Founded in the 2010s by Ty Haney, Outdoor Voices quickly grew as a Millennial favorite, and gained Mickey Drexler as an investor and chairman of the board in 2018. Once valued at over $100 million in 2018, internal leadership conflict saw the company quickly fall into disorder, and Haney, who had up until that point served as CEO, resigned from her leadership role in February of 2020. In June, she rejoined the company as an active board member. 

Cliff Moskowitz then served as interim CEO following Haney's departure, but both he and Drexler departed from the brand in June of 2020. Since that time, Ashley Merrill has served as chairwoman and acting CEO of Outdoor Voices. 

"I am thrilled to be joining the Outdoor Voices team," said Conforti. "I have always connected with the brand and believe in the strength of the company mission: to be happy, enjoy life, and get moving! I look forward to building on this solid foundation with focus on our community, the product, and the journey of the brand."

Added Merrill: "This is an exciting new chapter for Outdoor Voices and we are confident that Gabrielle is the right leader to accelerate the company's growth and continue the positive trajectory. She is a passionate, innovative and experienced executive and the perfect person to take Outdoor Voices to the next level."