Salomon's Chief Brand Officer Doubles Revenue with Outdoor Focus

Scott Mellin, the 59-year-old global chief brand officer of Salomon, has a unique routine that has remained consistent for over 25 years. Mellin starts his day with three to four double espresso shots from his Jura coffee machine, followed by a morning of skiing or cycling. This routine allows him to think deeply about the business before heading to the office at noon. Mellin's day-to-day routine is surprisingly low-key, despite his high-pressure role at the billion-dollar brand. He gets picked up and dropped off at work by his wife, and works well into the evening. Mellin's routine is a testament to his dedication to the outdoors and his belief that it is the best meeting room.

Mellin's journey to Salomon began after over 30 years of climbing the ranks in advertising, including five CEO roles and a senior leadership role at The North Face. He was lured out of semi-retirement by an offer to lead Salomon's next chapter. Since joining, he has helped transform the brand from a niche outdoor performance label to a billion-dollar streetwear phenomenon. Under his leadership, Salomon has put its trail shoes on fashion week runways and launched the world's first recyclable ski helmet. The brand is now on track to double its annual revenue, and will be outfitting 27,000 volunteers at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.

Mellin's personal finance advice to his 20-year-old self is to open a brokerage account to understand the stock market sooner. He believes that knowledge to help build a down payment for a house earlier could really help. Mellin's best investments have been in property, which has given him the opportunity to build his total retirement fund. His worst investment was putting 100% of his 401K into AOL stocks in 1996. Mellin's wife stayed home to raise their kids when they were small, which he considers one of his greatest luxuries. He believes that this allowed them to take their kids around the world through his work and make them truly global citizens.

Mellin's routine is a reflection of his belief that the outdoors is the best meeting room. He spends his morning skiing or riding his bike, which gives him time to think deeply about the business before heading to the office at noon. He works later into the evening or heads out for dinner with clients or partners. Mellin's routine is a testament to his dedication to the outdoors and his belief that it is the best meeting room.