IMTRA has announced that Chip Farnham, vice president of recreational sales, will retire after more than 40 years with the marine, energy and transportation products manufacturer and importer.
He will remain on the company’s board of directors.
The announcement includes changes to the company’s leadership and reporting structure, bringing recreational sales, commercial sales and product management under one executive, with Alex Larsen, currently vice president of commercial sales, named executive vice president.
He will oversee recreational sales, commercial sales and product management.
IMTRA says the reorganisation is designed to strengthen coordination between its sales, product and operational functions and support continued growth.
Company culture
Farnham’s grandfather founded IMTRA, and the family held an ownership stake for 70 years. In 2021, Farnham helped guide the decision to adopt an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), intended to preserve the company’s culture and transfer ownership to its employees.
“Chip has helped shape IMTRA into the company it is today, and his contributions extend well beyond sales,” said Eric Braitmayer, IMTRA president and chief executive.
“The relationships he has built and the care he has shown for our customers have made a lasting difference to our business.”
Braitmayer thanked Farnham for his service and wished him well in retirement.
IMTRA says the unified leadership structure is intended to encourage closer collaboration while retaining each team’s specialist expertise and focus on customers in its respective markets.
Reporting structure
In addition to Larsen’s appointment, Christopher Barnes, director of recreational sales, will now lead the recreational sales team, while Eric MacDonald, director of commercial sales, will lead commercial sales.
Both will report to Larsen, alongside Colby Chevalier, director of product management. The arrangement brings the two sales teams and product management into the same reporting structure.
“These changes reflect our commitment to developing leaders from within and giving our teams the support they need to serve customers well,” Braitmayer said.
He added that the new structure will help the company coordinate more effectively and build on the foundation established during Farnham’s tenure.
