Johnnie-O has named its first president.
Matt Ferrer, a 10-year veteran of the lifestyle brand, has been promoted to president, the first in the company’s history. He will continue to report to Dave Gatto, Johnnie-O’s chief executive officer.
Ferrer, who joined the brand in 2015, is credited with playing a key role in Johnnie-O’s expansion across wholesale, retail and licensed businesses. As president, he will oversee the commercial side of the business, including brand, marketing, product and sales across the wholesale, retail and e-commerce channels.
“Matt has been instrumental in driving the commercial growth of Johnnie-O,” said John O’Donnell, the company’s founder. “You can see it in the business, but you also see it in the people around him. He has built a strong team in Raleigh [N.C.] and created a culture rooted in trust and collaboration, which matters just as much as the numbers. I’m excited to see where he takes the brand next.”
Ferrer began his career at Johnnie-O as business development manager and served as director of business development, vice president of sales and senior vice president of sales, most recently overseeing all wholesale channels. Before joining the company, he worked in finance at Lehman Brothers and Barclays Capital before moving into brand consulting.
“I’ve had the opportunity to grow alongside this brand for the past 10 years, and I’m grateful for the trust that has been placed in me,” Ferrer said. “What has always set Johnnie-O apart is our people and our consistency. We know who we are, and that shows up in our product, our partnerships and how we work together. I’m excited for the opportunity to help take the brand even further.”
In 2016, Ferrer helped launch Johnnie-O’s Major League Baseball license, marking the brand’s entry into sports licensing. Since then the brand has also inked deals across with the National Hockey League, the National Football League, the PGA Tour, the U.S. Golf Association and more than 200 colleges and universities. During this period, Johnnie-O also expanded its retail presence to 15 stores from three and plans on doubling that number over the next 18 months.
