Hap Klopp, Founder and 20-Year CEO of The North Face

Hap Klopp spent 20 years as the President and CEO of The North Face. When he acquired the brand in 1968, it was just two small stores. Hap turned those stores into the global outdoor gear and apparel brand we know today. Hap now helps other entrepreneurial companies around the world with strategy through his company, HK Consulting. He also shares his insight as a speaker and writer. His books include Conquering The North Face: an Adventure in Leadership and ​ALMOST: 12 Electric Months Chasing a Silicon Valley Dream. Highlights from our conversation include: Hap’s early experiences hiring (and firing) (1:40) The interview that motivated him to start his own company (3:39) Why Hap looked for employees with passion over functional expertise early on (6:53) How he identified candidates that aligned with The North Face’s DNA (9:06) Hiring mistakes and how to move past them (10:21) Prioritizing interpersonal relationships over traditional hierarchies (15:38) Why Hap pushes for transparency in the hiring process (17:45) How his recruiting practices changed as The North Face grew (18:41) Hap’s advice for building high-quality teams (20:45) What he wished he knew about hiring 30 years ago (22:47) Why he’s focusing on working with disruptive companies today (25:33) Visit HowIHire.com for transcripts and more on this episode. Follow Roy Notowitz and Noto Group Executive Search on LinkedIn for updates and featured career opportunities.