John Sears of Gregory Packs earns SGB ‘40 Under 40’ leadership award

May 25, 2016

Longtime R+D team leader chosen for his work helping enable growth of the Gregory brand.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – John Sears, Vice President of Design and Development at Gregory Mountain Products, a global leader in backpacks and adventure travel gear, was named this month to the Sporting Goods Business (SGB) ’40 Under 40’ leadership list.

The award is given each year to 40 of the most influential executives and managers under age 40 who have proven their leadership skills at their respective companies and within the outdoor industry as a whole. Recipients are chosen by a panel of analysts, editors, industry executives and previous ‘40 Under 40’ honorees. Each year there are more than 400 nominees for the award.

Sears has worked at Gregory for more than a decade, advancing from a key product design team member into the leader of the Design and Development Department, and one of the executives overseeing the Gregory brand.

“Gregory has grown from a small company known for its commitment to building the best-wearing multi-day packs in the world to a brand that builds packs and bags that enable any kind of outdoor adventure, and being part of the team that has helped Gregory over its 40-year history has been incredibly rewarding,” Sears said. “I’m honored that my work at Gregory caught the eye of the ’40 Under 40’ team, and look forward to helping Gregory continue to excel in its fifth decade of building the best packs in the world.”

Award recipients will be profiled in the June issue of SGB Magazine and ’40 Under 40’ awards will be formally presented during the Outdoor Retailer trade show in August.

About Gregory Mountain Products
For nearly 40 years, Gregory Mountain Products has been the leader in expedition, backpacking, daypacks and travel gear. World renowned for fit, durability, and performance in all its products, Gregory has won awards for its pack designs from such diverse media outlets as Outside Magazine, Backpacker, National Geographic Adventure, Popular Science, Men’s Journal, Consumers Digest and Alpinist Magazine. Responsible for many industry firsts in backpacking fit and design, the Gregory research and design team continues to lead the way in innovative backpack technology and performance. For more information, visit www.gregorypacks.com.