REI鈥檚 CEO Jerry Stritzke has resigned after an internal investigation into聽conflicts of interest. A sent out Tuesday cites聽undisclosed ties to an聽executive at another outdoor organization.
That鈥檚 about all we know at the moment. According to the release, Stritzke鈥檚聽resignation came after facts emerged surrounding a 鈥減ersonal and consensual relationship between the REI CEO and the leader of another organization in the outdoor industry.鈥澛燭he release doesn鈥檛聽identify聽the other organization鈥攚hether it was a gear company, retailer, or nonprofit鈥攏or does it explain the exact nature of Stritzke鈥檚 relationship with its leader. It does state that the REI board hired an outside law firm to undertake聽an investigation into聽possible financial misconduct聽but it found no evidence of such a thing.聽
Still, according to the release, the breach of REI鈥檚 policy on conflict of interest was enough to warrant Stritzke鈥檚 resignation. 鈥淚 should have told the board, because my actions created a perceived conflict of interest to the co-op,鈥 Stritzke wrote in an to employees. 鈥淟ooking back, I recognize I should have been transparent. REI expects high standards from its leaders. The board and I agree that, in this instance, my decisions did not meet them and the last thing I want to do is damage REI.鈥
Stritzke has been at the retail giant鈥檚 helm since 2013. The company鈥檚 chief operating officer Eric Artz will step in as interim CEO, effective immediately.
REI has yet to disclose its plans for finding Stritzke鈥檚聽permanent replacement after he leaves the company on March 15. 国产吃瓜黑料 will continue to follow this story and update with new information as it becomes available.