On April 6, 2016, it was announced that Jackson Kayak founder Eric Jackson had left the company. In a statement, Jackson said: I have enjoyed my time with Jackson Kayak and am proud of what we have accomplished together over the past 17 years. However, I have decided that it is time for me to move on to new challenges.
Jackson did not elaborate on what those new challenges might be, but he did say that he plans to remain involved in the kayaking community. I will always be passionate about paddling and canoe/kayak design, he said. I look forward to continuing to work with many of you in different capacities in the future.
Jackson's departure from Jackson Kayak comes as something of a surprise; the company has been one of the most successful and innovative paddle sports brands in recent years. Under Jackson's leadership, JacksonKayak has released a number of groundbreaking products, including the Kraken series of whitewater kayaks and the Coosa line of fishing kayaks.
It's unclear at this time what effect Jackson's departure will have on Jackson Kayak. The company has not released any official statement on the matter.