REI this week named Portland’s Mary Beth Laughton the co-op’s next CEO, making her the latest Nike executive to get the top job at another company. Laughton will succeed Eric Artz, who is retiring.

Weeks after the retailer shuttered its experiences business, REI on Wednesday announced that CEO Eric Artz will retire in March as part of a planned succession process. Mary Beth Laughton, a former REI board director and one-time Athleta CEO, will take on the role, per a press release emailed to Retail Dive.

Nike executive Mary Beth Laughton has been named incoming CEO of REI. Laughton has since August 2023 been head of Nike Global Direct to Consumer. According to her LinkedIn profile, she is still a member of Nike's leadership team. She will replace REI President and CEO Eric Artz, who will retire on March 31, the co-op announced Wednesday.

REI’s President and Chief Executive Officer Eric Artz announced his retirement on Wednesday and named a Portlander as the company’s next chief executive.