Updated July 26, 2023: Salty Crew has hired Mary Miller to lead all product divisions. Read the story here.

Rip Curl’s senior vice president of women’s has left the company, alongside layoffs and adjustments to other roles within the business, SES has learned.

The company confirmed a restructure, but didn’t specify the number of positions impacted by the changes.

“Last week we made some changes to our structure so that we’re better positioned for the business’s needs going forward,” Rip Curl CEO Brooke Farris said in a statement provided to SES Tuesday evening. “This involved the difficult decision to remove and adjust some roles. With these changes, we acknowledge the departure of Mary Miller, senior vice president of women’s, and her tremendous contribution to Rip Curl. We are incredibly grateful to Mary for her tenure and wish her well.”

Miller joined Rip Curl in late 2007 as vice president of women’s merchandising and design and later served as women’s global chairman. She was named women’s senior vice president in 2020.

Miller, a veteran of the industry, also worked at O’Neill as design director, Roxy as a designer, and was also an assistant merchandiser at Mossimo Inc.

The Rip Curl women’s business under Miller’s leadership has thrived, and has become an important player in the space.

For example, Jack’s Surfboards’ co-owner Bobby Abdel told SES on one store visit that he really appreciated Rip Curl Women’s for its consistency – it focuses on women’s surf apparel, which it does well, and doesn’t change direction season after season.

On a store visit to Farias Surf & Sport in New Jersey, Women’s Buyer Sarah Jordan told SES that Rip Curl was “crushing it.”

“Their line is cohesive, and the colors look really nice on the wall. They are one of the few brands that makes D cups in swim, and that’s been great, they fit really nice. Their swim has been killer.”

We reached out to Miller and asked her for comment about her departure.

“After dedicating 15 years of my professional journey to Rip Curl, I have embarked on a new chapter by parting ways,” she said in a statement to SES. “It has been an absolute privilege to collaborate with an exceptional company and an incredible team throughout these years. Leading the women’s global team has been an exhilarating experience, and I take immense pride in the remarkable accomplishments the division has attained during my tenure at Rip Curl. While I cherish the wonderful memories and achievements I’ve had with this incredible authentic surf brand, I am eagerly anticipating the exciting opportunities that lie ahead in my future endeavors.”

Growing Business

The changes come as a search continues for a new North America general manager after former President Dylan Slater left this year to become Firewire CEO.

Rip Curl’s continued to see sales growth this year for parent KMD Brands Ltd.

The surf brand’s sales grew 7.9% in the fiscal third quarter ended April 30. Rip Curl’s sales for the first nine months of the fiscal year are now up 15%.

An investor presentation in May said Rip Curl sales for the 12 months through January totaled NZ$585 million ($365.45 million), with Australia being the company’s largest market. North America is the second largest market, generating about 25% of the sales for the 12 months through January.

The company will roll out a number of initiatives in the coming years to continue the momentum, including investments into the wholesale channel via brand buildouts, specialty store growth, licensed retail, expanding women’s, and Rip Curl-branded store growth, among other tactics outlined in the May investor presentation.

KMD, which acquired Rip Curl in 2019, also owns Oboz and Kathmandu.

Editor’s Note: Read about other recent executive moves at Vans, Stance, and Nike. 

---