FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 6, 2017
Contact: Jess McGlothlin, 512-520-7104, jess@affta.org
Simms Fishing Announces Leadership Change
Casey Sheahan Joins Team in New CEO Role
BOZEMAN, Mont. – Simms Fishing Products announced Friday that Casey Sheahan will join the company in the newly-created role of CEO. K.C. Walsh, majority owner and longtime Simms President, will transition into a role as the company’s Executive Chairman.
Walsh is enthusiastic about the transition, and what it means for the company moving forward. In a phone interview Friday, he shared that one of Sheahan’s first jobs as a young man was running shuttles for John Simms down in Jackson; it’s a reminder of the interwebbing of the fly-fishing industry as a whole. “Casey is a serious angler, with a great background in every product category that we offer,” Walsh shared. “He’s also a good friend, and we’re really looking forward to having him on board.”
Sheahan, a passionate, seasoned angler, comes from an impressive career in the greater outdoor industry. Simms shared his background in a press release sent Friday morning: “Sheahan’s impressive career began in product marketing with leading athletic & outdoor brands including Nike, Merrell and Kelty. In 2005, Sheahan joined Patagonia as their CEO, a position that he held for nine years. During Sheahan’s tenure, Patagonia experienced the most successful phase in its history, tripling the business. While in this role, Patagonia also launched their Common Threads Program, an industry-leading recycling program. Most recently, Sheahan was President of KEEN Footwear – one of the most innovative lifestyle footwear brands in the U.S. outdoor market. Sheahan has also served on the Board of Directors for Johnson Outdoors since 2014.”
Walsh added the transition falls at an opportune time for Simms. “We continue to prepare the company for growth, and felt that bringing on a new executive at this time would help us advance our growth initiatives. I’m looking forward to focusing more on the things I enjoys in business: product innovation, working with top accounts, getting more involved in government affairs and conservation, and mentoring our younger folks in industry,” he stated. He added Simms is excited to be exhibiting at the IFTD in 2018, and looking forward to the 2019 show in Denver.
AFFTA President and CEO Benjamin Bulis stated, “In the 25 years that K.C. Walsh has owned and been running Simms, he’s built one of the most respected and successful businesses in our industry. Simms is an industry leader, and K.C. is responsible for that. With the addition of Casey Sheahan as CEO one can only imagine the growth we will see from Simms in the future. I look forward to working with Casey as CEO of Simms; he’s is a great guy, a passionate angler and a true conservationist.”
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AFFTA advocates for and promotes the sustained growth of the fly fishing industry. By igniting consumer demand for products and services, providing businesses the tools to be successful, and advocating for access, protection and restoration of fishing waters, we will continue to enhance the passion and profitability of the sport of fly fishing.