Tilly’s Inc. has appointed Nate Smith as its new chief executive, effective Aug. 18.
Smith was most recently CEO at Marolina Outdoor Inc. and prior to that, he worked at Boardriders Inc. as president of its Americas division from 2017 to 2024. He also worked at Oakley for about five years.
Shares leaped 17% to $2.10 during midday trading with a market cap of $56 million (NYSE: TLYS).
Smith’s appointment comes a year and a half after former CEO Ed Thomas retired suddenly in January 2024. When Thomas left, co-founder Hezy Shaked returned as interim CEO while conducting a search for a new leader. He stepped in to lead full-time last September.
“We believe Nate’s combination of robust industry experience, core values, and strategic vision will help revitalize our brand and drive further improvements in our business during this important time,” Shaked said in a statement.
Shaked will transition back to executive chairman in August also.
