COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR HIRES NEW DIRECTORS OF TOUGHNESS

Outdoor lifestyle brand Columbia Sportswear has announced its newest “Directors of Toughness”, Faith Briggs and Mark Chase.  Briggs and Chase will spend the next nine months testing Columbia’s industry-leading gear in the toughest conditions around the globe.

In recruiting for this full-time, paid position, Columbia’s HR team fielded more than 4,000 applicants from the U.S., Canada and the UK, distilling those into a top group invited to interview with the company.  These applicants scaled mountains, hiked overnight and kayaked their way to the “The Toughest Interview (To Get To),” and that was just the beginning. Faced with a barrage of questions and challenges in Portland, New York, Canada and Scotland, each location provided applicants the opportunity to stand out in the crowded field.

The new Directors of Toughness will support Columbia’s promise to deliver products that are #TestedTough and will help write the next chapter in the brand’s storied history of putting gear to the test in the most inclement weather and harshest terrain.

Briggs is an accomplished runner and documentary film maker from Brooklyn, New York, and her passion lies in sharing contemporary stories from diverse communities. She can always be found with her camera, whether in the photographer’s pit during New York’s fashion week or in the cloud forests in Honduras.

Chase, set to be the first international Director of Toughness, joins the company from Gloucester, England. A former semi-professional rugby player, Chase was raised on a steady diet of climbing, skiing, and hiking.  He is most comfortable in the mountains far away from a warm office, and is excited to share his experiences during this adventure of a lifetime.

“The Directors of Toughness are integral employees at Columbia and help showcase the lengths that many of our employees go to in order to test our gear,” said Richelle Luther, SVP and chief human resources officer at Columbia Sportswear Company. “After interviewing so many inspiring candidates throughout the recruitment phase, we’re excited to introduce Faith and Mark and send them on their first adventure in just a few short days.”