Rose Marcario
President and CEO, Patagonia

Rose Marcario assumed the role of President and CEO of Patagonia in January 2014. Prior to this, Marcario served as CEO of Patagonia Works, the parent company of Patagonia, Inc., Patagonia’s COO and CFO.

After joining Patagonia in 2008, Marcario quickly embarked on transforming the company’s infrastructure to improve its operations and financial performance. In addition to broadening business throughout Europe, Japan and Australia, Marcario has helped Patagonia focus on innovation and the development of new product groups, processes and technologies, including Yulex® biorubber wetsuits, Traceable Down and Full RangeTM insulation for Nano AirTM products. During her time the company has doubled its scale of operations and tripled its profits.

Rose Marcario came to Patagonia with 15 years’ experience in corporate finance and global operations, including executive vice president in charge of mergers, acquisitions and private placements for Los Angeles-based Capital Advisors and senior vice president and CFO of General Magic (a spin-off of Apple Computer, Inc.). Marcario got her start as a senior consultant for accounting firm Arthur Andersen LLP. As director of corporate finance for L.A. Gear, she oversaw the shoe/apparel company’s IPO and rapid growth to $900 million in capitalization.

For Marcario, one of the most rewarding aspects of working for Patagonia is the opportunity for hands-on involvement in tackling environmental crises. In response to the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, for example, she spearheaded an initiative to send Patagonia employees to the join in relief efforts for the Gulf region. Marcario serves on the board of trustees for Naropa University (a Buddhist liberal arts college in Boulder, Colorado) and her environmental activism also includes preservation-focused work with organizations like the Joshua Tree National Park Association and the Mojave Desert Land Trust.

2014 & 2015 INTEGRAL CONVERSATION