North Face founder joins company’s advisory board

North Face founder joins company’s advisory board

Hap Klopp. Courtesy Varsity News Network

The founder of a major outdoor lifestyle brand has joined the advisory board of a venture-backed tech company in town.

Grand Rapids-based Varsity News Network, or VNN, a platform for high school sports websites, said yesterday that Hap Klopp, founder of The North Face, has been appointed to its strategic advisory board.

Klopp is the second member of VNN’s strategic advisory board and will advise the company’s board of directors on strategic goals and initiatives.

“We’re looking forward to leveraging Hap’s expertise building brands that customers care about to grow our network of over seven million fans to new heights,” VNN CEO and Co-Founder Ryan Vaughn said.

Klopp’s background

A native of Canterbury, New Zealand, Klopp founded The North Face in 1968 and served as its CEO for 25 years.

He is currently an operating partner and advisor at VO2 Partners and regularly lectures at graduate schools.

Klopp has acted in advisor and consultant capacities for numerous companies and serves as a member on a number of advisory boards.

He has authored two books, “Conquering The North Face: An Adventure in Leadership” and “ALMOST: 12 Electric Months Chasing a Silicon Valley Dream.”

Klopp holds a bachelor’s degree and an M.B.A. from Stanford University.

Varsity News Network

Established in 2011, VNN’s high school sports web platform is used by more than 1,500 schools nationwide, accounting for more than 10 percent of all U.S. high school athletic communities, according to VNN.