JACKSON CENTER — Airstream President and CEO Bob Wheeler has announced the promotion of two company employees.

Mollie Hansen has been named to the newly-created post of chief marketing officer. Hansen was previously vice president of marketing for the company, which manufacturers the world’s most iconic recreational vehicle.

Vice President of Sales Justin Humphreys will serve as the new chief operating officer (COO) for the manufacturer of the world’s most iconic recreational vehicle.

“It’s not just an opportunity to serve as Airstream’s COO, it’s also an honor,” said Humphreys. “I look forward to continuing Airstream’s storied history of excellence and doing my part to ensure the company is ready for the next generation of Airstreamers.”

As COO,Humphreys will oversee sales, service, parts, engineering, production, finance, purchasing and human resources.

As CMO, Hansen will oversee all brand positioning, including advertising, entertainment, retail marketing, external communications, consumer research, partnerships, licensees and corporate social responsibility.

Airstream hit a new sales record in each of Humphreys’ seven years as vice president of sales. In addition, he was responsible for overseeing parts and service, which have also grown substantially under his guidance. Humphreys recently led the successful implementation of the Five Rivet dealer standards program, which is designed to improve the customer ownership experience through Airstream’s dealer network.

“Justin has been integral in all high-level strategic decisions here at Airstream,” said Wheeler. “His new role as COO will enable us to further deepen our almost 90-year commitment of creating the world’s best recreational vehicles for our customers and dealer partners.”

Humphreys is a graduate of Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, and has been in the RV industry for 20 years. Humphreys, his wife Jennifer and his three children are avid Airstreamers.

This move is due in part to the key role Wheeler will play in the new joint venture between Thor Industries and Tourism Holdings Ltd. (thl) to create the premiere global digital platform for the RV industry.

“With RV ownership at all-time highs and consumers more digitally connected than ever, we are seizing this opportunity to bring a new level of connectivity to RV owners everywhere,” Wheeler said.

Wheeler said Hansen understands consumer needs and why they want to purchase an Airstream.

“Mollie is the consumer whisperer,” said Wheeler. “She has an unparalleled understanding of consumers’ motivations and the journey they make towards a purchase. She is a student of the customer’s emotional responses during that journey, and how to leverage those feelings to drive action. We are lucky to have her on our team.”

In the seven years since Hansen joined Airstream’s executive team, the recreational vehicle manufacturer’s weekly unit output has quadrupled, its online community has grown exponentially, and the brand’s status as an American icon is solidified with a new generation of outdoor adventurers.

“It’s a privilege to be entrusted as a steward of the Airstream brand,” said Hansen. “For almost 90 years the name has been synonymous with outdoor adventure and unsurpassed quality. I’m deeply appreciative of this new opportunity to share the Airstream story and lifestyle with people across the generations and around the world.”

Before Airstream, Hansen worked extensively in the athletic footwear and apparel industry. She came to Airstream from Converse, where she was director of retail marketing and merchandising. Before joining Converse, Hansen spent eight-plus years at Adidas Group, rising from director of visual merchandising to head of retail marketing. She started her marketing career at Nike as a merchandising manager.

Hansen holds a degree in Human Environmental Science Journalism from the University of Missouri. She is also a graduate of The University of Notre Dame’s Executive Education Program.

Airstream, manufacturer of the iconic “silver bullet” travel trailer, is the longest-tenured recreational vehicle manufacturer in North America. Following founder Wally Byam’s credo, “Let’s not make changes, let’s only make improvements,” Airstream has remained a timeless classic. Byam’s vision for Airstream trailers was to use these design- and quality-driven products to allow people to dream, travel and explore the open road. A subsidiary of Thor Industries, Airstream is based in Jackson Center, Ohio, where a team of craftsmen remains dedicated to preserving the brand’s legendary reputation for quality and innovation. For more information, visit airstream.com, call 877-596-6111 or contact Airstream, Inc., 419 W. Pike St., P.O. Box 629, Jackson Center, OH 45334.

More news about Airstream, its dealers and current travel trailer and touring coach models can be found at www. airstream.com/. For the latest news on Airstream, “like” them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter @Airstream_Inc.