Topher Gaylord

“I believe, people are the oxygen that fill brands with life.  Leadership that unlocks their team’s potential is jet fuel for an organization.”

Topher Gaylord has a lifetime of experience in global active lifestyle, athletic, outdoor and action sports industries both professionally and as lifelong participant and athlete. He has intimate global knowledge across The Americas, European, and Asian markets, having spent the past three decades in General Management, Strategy, M&A, Sales, Marketing, Product Creation, Digital, and Retail for market leading brands and companies in the industry. 

His career includes 17 years with VF Corporation, serving for 8 years as President International Outdoor & Action Sports, based in Italy and Switzerland, leading the portfolio of brands through M&A and operating leadership including The North Face, Vans, Reef, and JanSport brands internationally.  In addition, he served as Global President of VF’s flagship contemporary brand, 7 For All Mankind.  Topher approaches people inside an organization as the oxygen that fills brands with life and leadership that unlocks their team’s potential is jet fuel for an organization.

In 2010, he joined Columbia Sportswear Company serving on their Executive Leadership Team, building their brand portfolio strategy, and serving as President of their Mountain Hardwear brand. Topher’s approach to building brand purpose and culture centers on consistent team and leadership behaviours vs. highly refined mission, vision, and value statements.

In 2016 he joined Under Armour, leading and building out the brand’s consumer centric $5.2B dollar sport category portfolio and teams, serving as SVP & Global Group General Manager.  In his role he led all aspects of the brand’s global sport category teams, driving strategy, product creation, go-to-market, digital integration, and global distribution strategies.  

Currently Topher serves as a Director on several Private Equity and Non-Profit boards in addition to his work as a strategic advisor to early stage CEOs as well as global active lifestyle companies.  

When not immersed in building brands and teams, Topher pursues his outdoor passions which include climbing some of the most iconic peaks and rock walls in the world, finding backcountry skiing solitude, and completing over 75 Ultramarathons globally.