Gert Boyle 1924-2019

Columbia Sportswear Company announced the death of chairman Gert Boyle on 3rd November. A company spokesperson said she had been the company’s matriarch since 1970. Mrs Boyle held many jobs at Columbia, from seamstress of the first fishing vest to president and advertising icon in Columbia’s ‘One Tough Mother’ campaign. It is said that her sharp wit and wisdom helped propel the company from near bankruptcy in the early 1970s to the global multi-brand company it is today, with annual net sales of almost $3 billion in 2018. In the early days, she was seen as a pioneer leader in what was then a male-dominated industry. She will be remembered not just for her strength of character and business savvy but also for her humour that was well-known throughout the company.

Publishing Data

This article was originally published on page 4 of the December 2019 issue of SATRA Bulletin.

Other articles from this issue »

---