Patagonia’s Vice President of Environmental
Rick Ridgeway is currently Patagonia’s Vice President of Environmental Initiatives and Special Media Projects. Rick and his team develop, implement and promote the second two of the company’s three-part mission statement to make the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, and use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis. In this capacity, his department oversees the company’s environmental grant-making, internal and external environmental education, and special multi-year environmental projects including Freedom to Roam, a coalition founded by Patagonia to seek protection for wildlife corridors. Rick also manages Patagonia Productions, the company’s division that publishes book and produces films.
Before joining Patagonia, Rick was owner/president of Adventure Photo & Film, building it into the world’s most recognized outdoor stock photo and film agency before successfully selling it to focus on writing and filmmaking. At the same time he was active in the outdoor equipment industry, working as consultant for the Kelty Pack Co. for over 20 years.
In addition to his business history, Rick is recognized as one of the world’s foremost mountaineers and adventurers, and is known to many through his writing, photography and Emmy award-winning filmmaking. Along with three companions, Ridgeway became the first American to summit K2, considered the hardest mountain in the world to climb, and he has done many other significant climbs and explorations on all continents. He has produced and directed over 30 adventure shows for television. His 40 articles have appeared in Outside, National Geographic and many other magazines. He is the author of six books, including the highly acclaimed Seven Summits, The Shadow of Kilimanjaro and Below Another Sky. Rolling Stone magazine called Ridgeway “the real Indiana Jones”, and recently National Geographic honored him with its “Lifetime Achievement in Adventure” award. Rick lives with his wife in Ojai, California, and they have three grown children.