BEAVERTON, OR (BRAIN)—Yakima has named Steve Harden as senior director of North American sales.
In this position Harden will be responsible for developing sales, customer service, and nurturing business relationships. As a key member of the Yakima senior management team Harden will develop and execute new strategies and initiatives that expand distribution and brand penetration in North America.
Harden comes to Yakima with more than 20 years of sales and management experience in the outdoor and sporting goods industries. Most recently, he spent two years working with VF Outdoor, developing two new backpack brands targeted to specific markets and consumers. Prior to VF, Harden worked with Adidas as their director of sales, and he has held sales management roles at K-Swiss and Hi-Tec Sports.
“Steve’s strong experience across trade channels, particularly in the outdoor and sporting goods industries is exactly why he belongs with the Yakima family,” said Ron Ten Berge, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Yakima. “Steve is joining the team at a vital time when Yakima is seeing consistent growth not only in the U.S. but also around the globe. He has the proven track record that will reinforce Yakima’s leadership position in the vehicle rack category.”
Harden currently resides in California with his family and will be transitioning to the Portland area in the coming months.
