Caroline Brown, the former global brand president of The North Face, has joined the board of directors of Burton, the Vermont-based snowboard company.
Brown’s résumé includes stints as chief executive officer of Donna Karan International and DKNY, president of Carolina Herrera and U.S. CEO of Akris, as well as managing director at Closed Loop Partners, a New York-based investment firm. She left The North Face in March after less than two years.
“Caroline brings a deep understanding of how performance, fashion, innovation and culture come together to make a brand matter,” said Donna Carpenter, owner of Burton and chairman. “She knows how to honor the authenticity of an iconic brand while continuing to evolve it, reach new consumers and stay culturally relevant. Her background and experience will be a strong addition to our board as we continue building Burton’s next chapter. Beyond her résumé, Caroline is thoughtful, strategic, curious and grounded as a human being and leader. We couldn’t be more excited to have her.”
Brown said: “Burton lives right at the heart of snowboarding — 50 years into the journey and looking ahead to the future. I am so excited to join the board for this company rooted in authenticity, vision, unbeatable passion and deep belief in the value of culture. Driven by purpose and guided by riders as their foundation, the Burton team has built something truly extraordinary. I know the next 50 years for Burton will be as exciting as the last, and I am thrilled to contribute to this path forward.”
Burton was founded by the late Jack Burton Carpenter in 1977 out of his Vermont barn and today it manufactures snowboards, boots, bindings, outerwear and layering pieces as well as year-round apparel, packs/bags and accessories. Last month, the company named Denny Bruce CEO, succeeding Donna Carpenter who had been serving as interim CEO since June.