Johnson Outdoors, the parent compano of Minn Kota, Humminbird and other brands, today announced that Bill Kirchner will be joining the company as the new group vice president, fishing. Kirchner will report to CEO Helen Johnson-Leipold and will be a member of the company’s executive committee. In this role, he is responsible for providing the strategic direction and oversight, as well as driving innovative growth, for the fishing segment.
Kirchner brings a wealth of experience and proven success in growing, building and reinventing consumer businesses. He joins the company from Newell Brands, where he served as senior VP and GM of the outdoor equipment segment since 2020. Prior to that, he held various senior leadership roles of increasing responsibility at Amer Sports and Wilson Sporting Goods.
“I’m pleased to welcome Bill to our team," said Johnson-Leipold. "His 25-plus years of experience and capabilities will be critical to our fishing business, ensuring we continue to leverage our strengths in consumer-driven innovation and maximize opportunities in the outdoor recreation industry."
Said Kirchner: “As an avid fisherman, I am excited to join the Johnson Outdoors team and to lead the iconic Minn Kota, Humminbird and Cannon brands. I look forward to engaging our passionate anglers, partners and fishing team to develop future growth opportunities for our brands."
