Ryan Gellert, Patagonia CEO
PROGRAM
“A Channelside Chat with Ryan Gellert”
Ryan Gellert is chief executive officer of Patagonia. Prior to his appointment in 2020, Ryan spent six years managing Patagonia’s business in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. During that time, he elevated Patagonia to a position of leadership in Europe’s outdoor industry and environmental communities.
Under Ryan’s stewardship, Patagonia launched its first global environmental campaign focused on Europe: Save the Blue Heart of Europe, an international initiative to protect Europe’s last wild rivers from more than 3,000 planned hydropower projects. He also launched Patagonia Action Works in the region, an online tool to connect people with local and global conservation groups, allowing them to take action on causes they care about.
Ryan grew up on an east coast barrier reef in Florida with dolphins and manatees as his closest neighbors. He has since lived and worked throughout the United States, as well as in Asia and Europe. An avid climber and backcountry snowboarder, he spent 15 years at Black Diamond Equipment, a Utah-based manufacturer of mountain sports equipment, before joining Patagonia. He was a founding individual member of 1% for the Planet.
He also has extensive experience working with direct-action environmental groups, having served on the boards of Access Fund, Protect Our Winters, the European Outdoor Group, and the Soil Heroes Foundation. He works and lives in Ventura County.
“I’m not terribly optimistic, but I’m deeply, deeply committed to doing everything we can to reverse the climate-ecological crisis because we owe that, I owe that to my kids—we all owe it to future generations.”
