Climbing enthusiast joins footwear brand as CFO
29/09/2011
His enthusiasm for big-wall climbing led Five Ten founder, Charles Cole, to comment: “There are few people in the world who combine such passion for adventure and business. It is rare to find a person with such strong pedigrees in both climbing and business. We are proud and lucky to have him on board.”
When noted climber and Five Ten athlete Cedar Wright heard that Wally Barker was joining the footwear brand, he said, “Five Ten has executed a slam-dunk by hiring Wally. In Yosemite, we nicknamed him Big Wall Wally, as he is one of the all-time great big-wall climbers. Plus, he’s a business ninja who excelled at his career and still pushed the limits of the sport.”
His climbing career spans 30-plus years; remote big-wall first ascents in Pakistan and Baffin Island, solo ascents of most of all of El Capitan’s hard aid climbing test pieces [Yosemite, CA] and ground-breaking speed climbing link-ups of walls, such as Astroman, The Rostrum and The West Face of El Cap in a single day, as well as a host of other accomplishments on rock and on ice.
On agreeing to join Five Ten, Mr Barker said: “It is a privilege to join such an authentic brand and have a role where I can make a major impact. Many people think of Five Ten as a rock climbing shoe company, but sales in mountain biking and other action outdoor sports footwear are exploding. Overall company sales are up 50% overall. Good things are happening with Five Ten, and I am positive I can help lead the company’s transition into being a truly integrated global company.”
Share this story:
