Mary Beth Laughton, a footwear and fashion veteran who has held leadership positions at several industry giants, will soon take the helm at REI Co-op. The outdoor specialty retail giant announced Wednesday that Laughton will join REI as president on Feb.

REI Co-op President and CEO Eric Artz will retire in March, marking a new chapter in the co-op’s 87-year history. Mary Beth Laughton, a former REI Board Director described as a “seasoned retail leader,” will join REI as president on February 3, 2025, before assuming full CEO responsibilities on March 31.

"Eric has led and stabilized REI through some of the most challenging years the retail sector and our co-op ever faced. REI is in a strong position today because he always kept ou