MidwayUSA announced yesterday that the company has promoted Matt Fleming to president and CEO, effective immediately. Before yesterday's promotion, Fleming served as president of MidwayUSA, while MidwayUSA founder Larry Potterfield served as CEO. Potterfield will continue to serve as chairman of the company's board of directors in addition to working with Fleming during the transition.
“Matt Fleming has been an integral part of the growth of MidwayUSA over the past 20 years," Potterfield said. "His exceptional leadership qualities, attention to detail and focus on serving Customers make him the perfect choice to lead MidwayUSA into the future."
Fleming started at MidwayUSA in 2001 as a sales and marketing manager. In 2004, he was promoted to vice president of sales and marketing and was again promoted in 2009 to president. Under his tenure as president, MidwayUSA has seen a 300-percent increase in customers, as well as an increase in customer satisfaction from 91 to 94 percent. Since 2009, the company has also received two consecutive Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Awards.
“Growing up as a shooter, hunter and outdoorsman, I dreamed of having a career in the shooting, hunting and outdoor industry. 20 years ago, that dream came true when my now friend and mentor Larry Potterfield gave me an opportunity to work at MidwayUSA," Fleming said. "I can’t imagine another place where my personal values better align with the values of the company. The Potterfields are amazing people who put customers first, treat employees like family, value strong supplier relationships and generously give back to our industry. I'm honored and humbled to lead our incredible high-performing employees and will do everything in my power to extend the wonderful legacy the Potterfields have established.”
Despite Fleming being the first non-family CEO in MidwayUSA's history, the company will continue to operate as a family-owned business.