Columbia Sportswear names Jim Beeman VP, U.S. sales for Columbia brand

By

Benjamin Fitzgerald

Published
Jan 13, 2022

Columbia Sportswear Company announced on Wednesday the appointment of Jim Beeman to the role of vice president, U.S. sales for the American company's namesake Columbia brand.

In this role, Beeman will report to Tim Sheerin, senior vice president, global wholesale, Columbia brand. U.S. wholesale is a core business for the Columbia brand, and Beeman brings a plethora of leadership experience in that area, said the Portland, Oregon-based company in a press release.

“Jim has led multiple teams at Nike and driven significant growth in support of large integrated wholesale partnerships, driven category brand marketing and retail brand marketing, as well as territory-based teams across wholesale, digital and direct,” said Sheerin.

A Nike veteran, Beeman spent more than 22 years at the U.S. sportswear giant most recently as vice president and general manager of JD Sports/Finish Line, Nike's second largest wholesale account globally. Prior to that, Beeman served as vice president, integrated marketplace development; vice president and general manager, Nike central; senior global brand director, football and baseball; senior brand director, central territory; and senior director, U.S. brand director marketing.

“We could not be happier to have a leader of Jim’s caliber join Columbia Sportswear,” said Joe Boyle, president, Columbia brand. “We’re excited to have his energy and enthusiasm for the outdoor industry at the Columbia brand.”

In its most recent trading update, Columbia Sportswear said net sales increased 15 percent to $804.7 million for the third quarter ended September, 30, from $701.1 million for the comparable period in 2020.

The owner of Columbia, PrAna, Mountain Hardwear and Sorel brands said the increase in quarterly sales came on the back of direct-to-consumer growth and higher fall 2021 wholesale orders, offsetting constraints by supply chain disruptions that resulted in later inventory receipts and reduced wholesale shipments during the quarter.