Three key members of Stratos and Champion management resigned from their jobs this week, for reasons currently unknown. Gone from the company are former Stratos/Champion president Gary Clouse, Stratos sales director Hank Baker and Stratos/Champion marketing director Teresa Johnson.

The news came as a shock to the company, and the industry as a whole, and no reason has been publicly provided to explain the resignations.



Both Stratos and Champion are owned by Genmar Holdings Inc. Genmar replaced Clouse almost immediately with Don Wood, who was moved from his former position of Genmar VP of dealer development. Baker and Johnson have not yet been replaced.

BassFan spoke with Wood about the resignations and his new role as president. His answers appear in the brief Q&A below.

BassFan: Did the resignations come as a shock?

Wood: It was a shock to Genmar, and to everyone within the Stratos organization.

You're now president of Stratos/Champion. Can you tell us a little about your background?

I had been VP of dealer development at Genmar. I worked with all the Genmar brands for dealer placement around the country. I'm a former dealer, and I spent 17 years with OMC in various capacities including VP of North American sales for Johnson and Evinrude.

I also spent 5 years with Tracker Marine, from 1989 to 1994, as VP of sales. I also worked 2 years with Boats.com. So I've been in the marine business my entire life. And I fish for fun. I'm not a professional angler, but I love to fish.

I race boats, so I'm a marine person, and I've managed enough dealer organizations that I didn't hesitate for a second to come down here. When you think about Stratos and Champion, you think about great manufacturing. And I think the Stratos and Champion dealers will tell you the quality of the product coming out of this plant is the best there's ever been.

We also have a tremendous group of people here in Murfreesboro (Tenn.). They all work hard and feel good about this company. I'm really excited about the opportunity.

What is your immediate goal in your new position?

My goal going forward is to manage the business. The timing for something like this is never perfect, but it's as close (to perfect) as it could possibly be if it had to happen. We have 5 months left in the model year for '06. So I want to maximize the business for the company and our dealers for the rest of the year.

Was any reason given for the resignations?

No, although there are all kinds of rumors out there. I'm telling you straight: We do not know why they left.

Will this have any affect on the new Stratos Owners Tournament Trail?

In no way shape or form. We will move forward. It's business as usual.

Did the offer to fill Clouse's position come as a surprise to you?

Absolutely. I was at the Los Angeles and San Francisco boat shows last week, and Roger Cloutier, our COO and president at Genmar, called me and said, "Where are you?"

I said, "Right now I'm standing in the Wellcraft booth." He told me what happened and I about fell on the floor. He asked me to come out and run the business, and I didn't hesitate for a minute.

Yesterday (Tuesday) was my first day here. I intend to move here (to Tennessee), and I'm very excited about the future. I look forward to moving this company forward.

Do you anticipate any changes to the Stratos or Champion pro staffs in the near future?

Nothing has changed or will change in the immediate future. I intend to continue business as usual. There will be no change in programs, and no change in products. We want to move ahead with minimal disruption.

Notable

> BassFan has been unable to contact Clouse, Baker or Johnson.

> Steve Holland, Champion sales director, is still with the company, as is Dave Barnett, who oversees the Stratos Owners Tournament Trail.