FORT COLLINS, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--OtterBox® has always been about evolution, and the next phase of that development includes a new leader to drive the company to the next level. OtterBox founder Curt Richardson will transition into a new role as chairman and pass the chief executive torch to current President Brian Thomas.
“There’s always been a lot of change at OtterBox, and there always will be,” Richardson said. “Probably the person who has seen the most change has been me. The best part about being the owner is that you get to change your own role.”
Richardson founded OtterBox in 1998 after developing the original dry box line from the comfort of his Fort Collins, Colo. garage. The company has seen much of its growth during the last several years with a shift in focus to protective solutions for mobile technology.
Thomas joined OtterBox in 2002 as employee No. 6 when the company’s annual revenue topped out at $2 million. At the time, OtterBox was focused on waterproof, crush proof dry boxes, popular among water sports enthusiasts. He helped the company evolve from a producer of generic dry boxes to device-specific protection products – first for PDAs, then to the current lineup of smartphone and tablet cases. He also spearheaded the global expansion of OtterBox which now includes offices in Cork, Ireland and Hong Kong.
“Curt has mentored me for 10 years to get to the place that I am now,” Thomas said. “We will continue to work together. I will do everything I can to make this company grow and succeed in the vision and footsteps that Curt has laid out. We’ll do this together.”
Thomas spent the last decade at OtterBox in various roles including sales manager, sales and marketing director, chief operating officer and president. He and Richardson have worked side by side to grow OtterBox and continuously clarify the company’s vision.
Richardson explained that the transition has been a long time in the making and the announcement is largely just a change in titles that reflects the current roles of both he and Thomas. Complementing Thomas’ new role as president and CEO is the addition of Pete Lindgren as COO.
Lindgren brings decades of experience in global manufacturing. He has worked in the electronics manufacturing services industry since 1985 and has held a number of management positions in international operations, sales and marketing, program management, and materials with SCI Systems, MTI International and, most recently, at Celestica.
“OtterBox has grown significantly and will continue to grow significantly,” Richardson said. “We need the right talent in place for that. “You always hire someone smarter than yourself. That’s what we’ve done and what we’ll continue to do."
