The multi-resort company’s stock has been dropping since the Park City ski patrol strike.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Chris Jones and other supporters of the Park City ski patrol join the picket line in their fight with Park City Mountain and its owner Vail Resorts for a better contract on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025.
Rob Katz is retaking the reins of Vail Resorts.
The company, the parent of Utah’s Park City Mountain, announced Tuesday that Katz will replace Kirsten Lynch as its CEO. Lynch, a former chief marketing officer, replaced Katz as Vail Resorts’ CEO in 2021. Katz has remained the executive chair of the board of the publicly traded company since that transition and will continue in that role.
Lynch, 56, came under fire this year in part because of the way Vail Resorts and Park City Mountain handled a patrol worker strike during the winter holiday season. In the wake of the strike, Park City Mountain skiers filed a class-action lawsuit accusing Vail Resorts of failing to disclose the strike and its impacts.
According to a news release, Lynch will remain in an advisory role with Vail Resorts temporarily.
“I am a lifelong champion of Vail Resorts,” Lynch said in a statement, “and look forward to seeing the next phase of the Company’s journey.”
During his first stint as CEO — from 2006 to 2021 — Katz oversaw the acquisition of Park City Mountain and Canyons Resort and facilitated their merger. He steered the introduction of the Epic Pass, which created the model for the multi-resort season pass. And he was in charge when Vail Resorts attempted to trademark the name “Park City.”
“Rob has a strong track record of driving innovation and executing consistent performance at Vail Resorts and has played a critical role in the development of Vail Resorts’ operations and long-term strategy for over the past three decades,” Bruce Sewell, the board’s lead independent director, said in a statement. “Rob’s 16 years as CEO included reinvigorating the Company during times of industry stagnation and challenging macro environments. We look forward to continuing to work closely with him to ensure that Vail Resorts consistently delivers for our employees, guests, communities, and shareholders as the worldwide ski industry leader.”
Vail Resorts will hold its third-quarter earnings call June 5. At that time, the company will reveal its fiscal 2025 outlook and give updates on Epic Pass sales.
“I remain as passionate about Vail Resorts, the sport of skiing and snowboarding, and this industry as when I first became CEO nearly two decades ago,” Katz said in a press statement. “While the environment and the Company itself have changed, what remains the same is our deep-rooted commitment to all our stakeholders, including to our team members, our truly unique mountain resorts, and the communities we serve, as well as to our culture of innovation and constant improvement. I am very optimistic about the future of Vail Resorts and delivering for all our stakeholders.”