BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – REI has announced a leadership change in the coming months.

The company’s CEO Eric Artz said in a statement to employees that he will be retiring in March. He has been the CEO of REI since 2019 after initially joining the company in 2013.

Artz said that it felt like the right time to step away as the company is “in a good position” financially.

During Artz’s time as CEO, ten stores voted to unionize, including Bellingham’s Sehome Village location.

He also recently announced layoffs and the closure of the company’s Experiences division, which impacted hundreds of employees across the country.

Former REI board member Mary Beth Laughton will be brought on as the company’s president in February before she transfers to the CEO role. Laughton previously worked at Nike, Sephora, and other major retailers.