Marolina Outdoor, the parent company of Huk Performance Fishing and Nomad Outdoor, recently announced the hiring of Nate Smith as chief executive officer.

Smith brings to Marolina 20 years of executive leadership and outstanding performance in consumer-branded omnichannel organizations in apparel, footwear and accessories. He has a proven track record of successfully building and repositioning brands and developing omnichannel retail strategies.

Smith has held senior executive roles at brands such as Patagonia and Oakley and, most recently, was president at Boardriders, a holding company consisting of several large global brands, including Quiksilver, Billabong, Roxy, RVCA, DC Shoes, and Element Brand.

Earlier in his career, Smith received a B.S. in political science from the United States Naval Academy, and later went on to serve 10 years as a U.S. Navy SEAL, where he worked in more than 25 countries. Smith also graduated with an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Edwin Lewis, chairman of Marolina’s board of directors, said, “We are incredibly excited to have Nate join the Marolina team. The leadership skills he developed in service to this country, combined with his extensive experience working with iconic brands, makes Nate uniquely qualified to lead Marolina in the next phase of its growth.”

“I am very excited to be joining Marolina Outdoor, a company with an amazingly talented team and a proven formula for success,” Smith said. “As someone who appreciates the passionate communities, cultures and lifestyles the Huk and Nomad brands represent, I am eager to dive in with the team and develop a growth strategy that continues to exceed the performance apparel needs of fishing and hunting enthusiasts.”