Winnebago’s RV operations are getting a new leader.
Winnebago Brand President Huw Bower will step down Aug. 31. Chris West, Winnebago Industries enterprise operations and Barletta Boats senior vice president, will take on Bower’s role, effective Sept. 1. West will be president of Winnebago Outdoors businesses, which includes Winnebago-brand motorhomes, Winnebago-brand towables and Winnebago-brand specialty vehicles.
Bower guided Winnebago Outdoors the past four years, growing Winnebago’s RV sector over that time.
Winnebago Industries President and CEO Michael Happe said the company appreciated Huw’s contributions and welcomes West.
“Winnebago Industries believes that time spent outside is priceless,” Happe said, “and we are committed to building a best-in-class leadership team that can deliver on our promise to elevate every moment outdoors for our partners and customers.”
Bower joined Winnebago in 2020, after spending more than 15 years in brand leadership and executive roles at Brunswick Corp., a global marine company. During his time at Brunswick, Bower managed boat brands including Boston Whaler, Lund and Sea Ray.
In Bower’s time at Winnebago, the company navigated the pandemic-fueled increase in sales and supply-chain breakdowns before adjusting to the slowing retail market the past two years. Winnebago officially moved its corporate headquarters to Minnesota in 2021 after more than six decades headquartered in Iowa.
Bower had one chance to address Winnebago’s full dealer body, at the manufacturer’s dealer meeting in Georgia in 2022. Winnebago celebrated manufacturing the company’s 500,000th RV at the event, the first industry brand to reach the milestone.
After hiring Bower from Brunswick with a deep marine background, Winnebago followed its playbook by naming West as Bower’s successor. West led Winnebago’s Barletta Boats acquisition transition in 2021 and provided executive oversight in the company’s pontoon business.
West joined Winnebago in 2016 to lead the manufacturer’s enterprise operations. He managed manufacturing and supply chain aspects. West collaborated with Winnebago’s RV and marine businesses, built industry relationships and drove progress.
The company said West improved areas including business excellence, employee safety, manufacturing, strategic sourcing/supply chain management and quality.
Before joining Winnebago, West led various leadership roles including Joy Global’s vice president of global supply. He also worked in agricultural equipment and aircraft interior manufacturing.
Barletta Boats President Jeff Haradine is also shifting responsibilities. Haradine will join Winnebago Industries’ executive leadership team and report directly to Happe, effective Sept. 1.
