British bag brand Stubble & Co has announced the appointment of Rob Wylie as its Chairman. The appointment follows news of a major investment in the business by Growth Partner last autumn.

The company said Wylie, who’s “credited with bringing American backpack brand Osprey into Europe… proactively reached out to Stubble & Co’s founders, excited by the opportunity to lend his support in building another globally recognised brand”.

That came after he saw “commuters wearing Stubble & Co bags and learning of the progress the brand had made since launching in 2017”.

The firm’s products are known for their durability and multi-functional features that target “commuters, gym-goers, weekend escapers, all-weather cyclists and frequent flyers”.

And Wylie is a specialist in the adventure and travel sector so he’s clearly a good fit. He founded Osprey Europe (no relation to premium leathergoods brand Osprey London) in 2003 and consistently achieved double-digit growth until he left the business in 2019. Its turnover grew to more than £40 million during his 16-year tenure. 

Stubble said he “brings 20+ years of knowledge in retail and wholesale” to the business “whose founders have ambitious plans for global expansion and product development”. 

Those founders, Ben and Victoria Watkiss, said of the new arrival: “As soon as we met Rob, it was immediately obvious he had the exact experience, personality and drive to accelerate our journey. There is no shortcut to experience, and his track record of growing Osprey Europe is phenomenal. We’re excited to work together, continue investing in a world-class team and take Stubble & Co to the next level.” 

While still relatively small, the business achieved “sustained triple-digit growth and exceptional sales CAGR of 173% over the last three years”. Seeing record sales in the last quarter, it’s forecasting sales of £10 million this year. 

The company announced its new investment from Growth Partner last November, saying it had raised a “multi-million-pound” sum from the investment firm that’s backed by HomeServe Founder and Chairman Richard Harpin. Growth Partner took “a significant minority stake” in the firm.