After nearly 8 decades led by 105-year-old Klaus Obermeyer, Sport Obermeyer has tapped Kris Kuster to serve as its first-ever CEO. Obermeyer will remain active as owner and president of the board, but Kuster will lead the company’s upcoming transition from purveyor of winter outerwear to a year-round outdoor sports brand — with a heightened focus on women.
It’s no small moment. Even in an industry filled with larger-than-life figureheads, Klaus Obermeyer stands out. After leaving his Bavarian hometown on skis to escape the Nazis, he landed in Aspen as a ski instructor in 1947 and soon after founded his namesake company.
Beyond driving snowsports innovations like down jackets, aluminum poles, mirrored sunglasses, and high-altitude sunscreen, Obermeyer himself became a mascot and ambassador for the sport, skiing into his 100s and inspiring the “Ski Like Klaus” stickers often seen around Aspen.
For his part, Kuster said he’s ready to fill those shoes — or at least, share them.
“There’s certainly a sense of gravity in stepping into a role that Klaus has held for 78 years — he’s a pioneer and a living legend in the industry,” Kuster said. “This isn’t about replacing him, it’s about carrying forward his vision with the same passion for innovation, integrity, and joy.”
Obermeyer CEO Tackles ‘New Reality’
Kuster joins Obermeyer after stints as the North American general manager for Mammut and CEO of X-Bionic. As he takes the reins, Kuster maintained the brand’s commitment to performance-driven outerwear will hold fast.
At the same time, the appointment coincided with an announcement of “a new direction” that includes two specialty capsules for spring/summer 2026 gear that focus on women, and on more “versatile and sustainable gear that’s just as at home on a spring trail or shoulder-season getaway as it is on a ski trip,” according to Kuster.
“This is a moment to double down: better design, broader inclusivity, and a stronger emotional connection,” he told GearJunkie. “Women already make up a large and growing portion of our customer base, and we see a real opportunity to listen more deeply and deliver more boldly.”
There’s also a strong business case for the push to diversify. Kuster acknowledged that as he assumes the mantle of CEO, tariffs have created a “fluid environment” that are now “the new reality for many brands.”
As such, Kuster and the brand announced a “slight price increase” for some fall/winter 2025 products — to the tune of 3% for some kids’ items, and 5-7% on select “high-performance outerwear styles” in men’s and women’s items.
‘Make It Better’
Lauded by his own brand as the “oldest living company president,” Klaus welcomed Kuster with his blessing, noting that the two spend time together each week at his ranch.
“We share a similar approach to business: Make it fun, inviting, and inspirational to get more kids and adults out on the mountain enjoying incredible sports,” the eponymous founder said.
Kuster said he plans to lean on Obermeyer’s “relentless optimism and curiosity” as he guides the brand into a new chapter. Asked if Klaus offered any advice to kick off his new tenure, Kuster had an answer at the ready.
“Make it better, always. That’s your job,” he said. “He built this company by constantly asking how things could be more useful, more fun, more enduring — and that mindset will always guide us.”
Read the full article here