Kathmandu Holdings, the owner of the Kathmandu, Rip Curl and Oboz brands, has announced the resignation of its group chief executive, Xavier Simonet. After five and a half years with the company, Simonet has decided to pursue another opportunity in the Australian Public Service in a senior position. He will remain with the company through his six-month notice period or until the board of directors decides to dismiss him. The chairman of Kathmandu Holdings, David Kirk, said he was disappointed to lose Simonet but understood his desire to work for the Australian Public Service. Simonet has led Kathmandu through a period of growth and repositioning of the Group. The company has just announced a 72 percent increase in global turnover for the first quarter of 2020/21, which takes into account the acquisition of Rip Curl in October 2019.