Blenders Eyewear Names Jack Gray as New CEO

Blenders Eyewear’s founder, Chase Fisher, is stepping down from his chief executive officer role — and in his place, the brand has appointed Jack Gray to lead its new chapter.

The company first launched 13 years ago in San Diego, inspired by California’s active lifestyle. Fisher, with a loan of $2,000, began selling his midrange yet stylish eyewear out of his backpack while still a surf instructor. Today, the brand sells a range of men’s and women’s sunglasses and snow goggles.

Fisher will transition into his new role to become Blenders’ brand evangelist — the company said he will continue to be a major driver in Blenders’ overarching brand ethos. His role will entail forging community connections, expanding the brand’s presence and increasing its NIL impact within the sports and across the retail landscape.

“There comes a point in every founder’s journey where founder mode starts to crack,” Fisher told WWD. “Most founders aren’t great chief executive officers and my role had become far more operational than visionary. To build the future I see for Blenders, I needed to shift into my true zone of genius. This transition isn’t about stepping back; it’s about stepping into what I do best. Driving brand, culture and storytelling. With Jack leading the charge as chief executive officer, Blenders is positioned to scale faster, innovate smarter and expand globally while staying true to its DNA. This move is about building something bigger than any one person. It’s about taking Blenders from a disruptive challenger to a dominant force in eyewear and lifestyle. The future is bold — and this is how we get there.”

Safilo Group first announced it would acquire a 70 percent stake in the company in December 2019 from Fisher for $63.9 million, completing the majority-stake purchase of the San Diego-based direct-to-consumer company in June 2020.

Angelo Trocchia, Safilo’s chief executive officer, previously noted its decision to acquire Blenders Eyewear was because of its “fast-growing e-commerce-powered business at the forefront of the latest direct-to-consumer and omnichannel capabilities” and looked to the company as being a key part of its U.S. market reach within its brand portfolio.

Gray has nearly 20 years of experience in building and scaling global brands; the company said he will use his expertise to help drive a new chapter of growth, innovation and enhance community engagement.

Previously, Gray spent more than 13 years at Adidas with his most recent role as senior business unit director of U.S. basketball and was the chief marketing officer at sports supplement brand Ladder, cofounded by LeBron James and Arnold Schwarzenegger. More recently, he was the chief product officer and president of French freeski brand Black Crows in 2023 and president of Parks Project until January 2025.

“Chase built Blenders with heart, hustle and a relentless belief in ‘blending out’,” said Gray. “That kind of origin story doesn’t come around often — and it lit a fire in me. My vision is to honor that legacy by evolving it for today’s world: sharper strategy, bolder storytelling and a renewed commitment to movement and individuality. This brand has never stood still — and neither will we. I plan to scale what’s already working, while simplifying what’s not. My leadership style is collaborative but forward-charging — we’ll lead with clarity, move with speed and stay anchored in purpose. We’ll do everything in line with Blenders Eyewear’s iconic slogan, ‘Life in forward motion.’ We’ll continue moving and pushing with this in mind always.”