BOZEMAN, Mont.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 13, 2025--
MeatEater, Inc. (“MeatEater”), one of America’s top brands in outdoor media and consumer products, announced today the appointment of Kevin Eskridge as Chief Commercial Officer. Eskridge brings extensive expertise in outdoor and athletic apparel product innovation, business strategy, and operational leadership to MeatEater’s dynamic team.
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As Chief Commercial Officer, Eskridge will oversee the company’s consumer products and commerce business, including the management of MeatEater’s diverse product portfolio, operations, sales and distribution channels (ecommerce, wholesale, and owned retail) as well as marketing and customer service functions. He will spearhead these efforts across MeatEater’s product brands: MeatEater branded products, First Lite technical hunting apparel, FHF Gear, Phelps Game Calls, and Dave Smith Decoys.
“Kevin’s proven ability to drive growth through product innovation and distribution coupled with compelling marketing is exactly what we need as we continue to scale,” said Jason Bergsman, CEO of MeatEater. “His deep experience and entrepreneurial spirit make him the ideal leader to elevate our business and deepen our connection with the outdoor community. We’re thrilled to have him join us on this journey.”
Eskridge joins MeatEater after an illustrious 11-year tenure at Under Armour, where he held multiple leadership roles, culminating as Chief Product Officer. During his time at Under Armour, Eskridge worked closely with cofounders Kevin Plank and Kip Fulks to establish the brand’s presence in the hunting, military, tactical, and fishing categories. Eskridge’s career at Under Armour also included a pivotal stint as Managing Director of China, where he successfully led the company’s retail expansion across Asia, opening 100 stores.
Following his return stateside, Eskridge served as President of Performance and Merchandising and later as Chief Product Officer, leading product innovation and go-to-market strategies. Most recently, Eskridge was President of Brunt Workwear, a direct-to-consumer workwear and footwear startup.
“Joining MeatEater feels like a natural evolution for me,” said Eskridge. “The company’s mission to inspire people to connect with nature and its commitment to conservation are both compelling and impactful. I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and collaborate with this talented team to deliver innovative products that enhance some of the outdoor activities I’m most passionate about.”
Eskridge’s arrival at MeatEater follows last month’s appointment of Scott Trepanier as Executive Vice President of Marketing at MeatEater, further bolstering the company’s seasoned outdoor products management ranks. Trepanier, who reports to Eskridge, joined MeatEater after a distinguished 14-year career at Columbia Sportswear, where he excelled in key marketing leadership roles, culminating in his position as Vice President of U.S. Marketing.
About MeatEater, Inc.
MeatEater, Inc. is an outdoor lifestyle media and consumer products company founded by renowned writer and TV/podcast personality Steven Rinella. Host of the long-running TV series MeatEater and The MeatEater Podcast (among the top ten sports podcasts), Rinella has gained wide popularity with hunters, anglers, and others through his passion for outdoor adventure and wild foods, as well as his strong commitment to conservation. With the belief that a deeper understanding of the natural world enriches all of our lives, MeatEater brings together leading influencers in the categories of hunting, fishing, wild foods, and conservation to provide a community of fans with premium content, apparel, equipment, and experiences. MeatEater, Inc. is the parent company of First Lite (technical hunting apparel), FHF Gear (outdoor accessories), Phelps Game Calls, and Dave Smith Decoys. MeatEater’s video content is distributed via Netflix, Outdoor Sportsman Group cable networks, YouTube, its website www.themeateater.com, its own free ad-supported TV (FAST) channel, and numerous ad-supported video on demand (AVOD) platforms including Roku, PlutoTV, Tubi, and Amazon Prime Video. The company is based in Bozeman, MT.
Kevin Eskridge, MeatEater’s new Chief Commercial Officer (Photo: Business Wire)
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Managerless Manchester United crashed out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 defeat to Brighton on Sunday.
At the end of a week that saw the storied Premier League team fire head coach Ruben Amorim, the loss at Old Trafford has likely consigned United to another trophyless season and was greeted with loud jeers from the home crowd.
Former United striker Danny Welbeck scored what proved the decisive goal in the 64th minute, and Benjamin Sesko's late header was only a consolation for the hosts in the third-round match.
United has exited both domestic knockout competitions at the earliest possible stage this season, following the humbling loss to fourth-tier Grimsby in the English League Cup. The latest defeat means United will play the bare minimum of 40 competitive games for a top division team this season.
Its only chance of silverware this term is the Premier League, which would require a remarkable turnaround with the 20-time champion currently seventh in the standings and 17 points behind leader Arsenal with 17 games left.
United hopes an interim coach will be able to secure Champions League qualification, with the club having spoken to former players Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick about taking on the role until the end of the season. Youth coach Darren Fletcher, who has taken charge of the two games since Amorim's departure, is also a contender, as well as former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.
The loss to Brighton underlined the job facing the interim coach.
Brajan Gruda fired the visitors ahead in the 12th, with Welbeck doubling the advantage after the break. Sesko scored his third goal in two games in the 85th, but substitute Shea Lacey was sent off four minutes later and United could not force an equalizer to take the game to extra time.
Arsenal advanced earlier Sunday with Gabriel Martinelli scoring a hat trick in a 4-1 win at Portsmouth.
Martinelli's treble helped the Premier League leader come back from going a goal down to the second-tier Championship team inside three minutes.
Colby Bishop stunned Arsenal with the opening goal at Fratton Park, but the lead only lasted five minutes after Andre Dozzell scored an own-goal.
Martinelli put the visitors ahead with a flicked header in the 25th. He slid in for his second six minutes after the break and headed in his hat-trick goal in the 72nd. It was the first time the Brazilian had scored a hat trick for Arsenal.
Victory could have been even more emphatic if Noni Madueke had converted from the penalty spot in the first half.
“It’s always tough to go into these places, especially in the manner that we started the game, conceding the early goal, but we managed to turn things around so I’m very happy,” said manager Mikel Arteta.
Record 14-time FA Cup winner Arsenal last lifted the trophy in Arteta’s first season in charge in 2020. It was the last major honor the London club won, but victory against Portsmouth maintains its four-pronged trophy pursuit along with the Premier League title, the Champions League and the English League Cup.
“I think we are very privileged to be where we are, and the games that we have to play, which means that we are in every competition,” Arteta said.
Top-flight Leeds was also behind to Championship opposition, but recovered from 1-0 down to beat Derby 3-1 at Pride Park.
Third-tier Mansfield pulled off an upset to beat Championship side Sheffield United 4-3 and Norwich routed Walsall 5-1, with Jovon Makama scoring a hat trick. Norwich head coach Philippe Clement later said that U.S. international Josh Sargent refused to play in the game.
Relegation-fighting West Ham needed extra time to beat QPR 2-1. Valentin ‘Taty’ Castellanos’ goal saw Nuno Espirito Santo’s team end a 10-match winless run.
West Bromwich Albion beat Swansea 6-5 on penalties following a 2-2 draw after extra time. Hull won 4-3 against Blackburn on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Brighton's Danny Welbeck celebrates after scoring during the FA Cup third round soccer match between Manchester United and Brighton in Manchester, England, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Manchester United's Matheus Cunha reacts during the FA Cup third round soccer match between Manchester United and Brighton in Manchester, England, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli scores during the FA Cup third round soccer match between Portsmouth and Arsenal in Portsmouth, England, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke celebrate after a goal during the FA Cup third round soccer match between Portsmouth and Arsenal in Portsmouth, England, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Leeds United's James Justin scores their side's third goal of the game during the Emirates FA Cup third round match between Derby County and Leeds United, in Derby, England, Sunday Jan. 11, 2026. (David Davies/PA via AP)
Leeds United's Ao Tanaka, right, celebrates with Wilfried Gnonto after scoring their side's second goal of the game during the Emirates FA Cup third round match between Derby County and Leeds United, in Derby, England, Sunday Jan. 11, 2026. (David Davies/PA via AP)
Arsenal players celebrate after a goal during the FA Cup third round soccer match between Portsmouth and Arsenal in Portsmouth, England, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
