Chief Executive Officer Outdoor Living Supply Names John Merritt as Chief Executive Officer
Outdoor Living Supply (“OLS”), a rapidly expanding national distributor of outdoor living and building products, today announced the appointment of John Merritt as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective July 13, 2026. The leadership transition signals a strategic evolution for the company as it continues scaling its platform across the United States and strengthening its position in the outdoor living distribution sector.
Merritt will succeed Founder Brian Price, who will transition into the role of Founder and Chair of the Board. In this capacity, Price will remain closely involved with the organization, continuing to guide long-term strategy, support leadership development, and contribute to key growth initiatives while stepping away from day-to-day executive responsibilities.
The transition reflects a planned leadership succession designed to preserve OLS’s entrepreneurial foundation while introducing additional operational depth to support its next stage of expansion.
A leadership change aligned with growth ambitions
Since its founding in 2020, Outdoor Living Supply has developed into one of the fastest-growing distribution platforms in the outdoor living space. The company serves contractors, dealers, and homeowners through a growing network of regional distributors across the country. Its portfolio includes materials and products used in hardscaping, landscaping, outdoor construction, and residential outdoor improvement projects.
OLS has built its expansion model around acquiring and partnering with established local and regional distributors while maintaining their entrepreneurial culture. This approach has enabled the company to scale quickly while preserving strong customer relationships and local market expertise.
As part of its identity, OLS emphasizes its “FORTITUDE” culture, which prioritizes accountability, operational discipline, and customer-first service. This culture has been central to its ability to integrate new businesses and maintain consistent performance across geographically diverse markets.
John Merritt’s industry experience and leadership background
John Merritt brings extensive experience in the building products and distribution industries, having led large-scale operations focused on growth, efficiency, and organizational integration. Throughout his career, he has worked across multiple segments of the construction supply chain, partnering closely with suppliers, customers, and internal teams to improve performance and expand market reach.
Most recently, Merritt held a senior leadership role at US LBM, one of the largest building materials distributors in the United States. In that role, he was responsible for overseeing a major regional business unit generating approximately $2 billion in annual revenue. His responsibilities included operational oversight, strategic planning, and execution across a large and complex distribution network.
His background at US LBM is expected to be particularly relevant to OLS’s continued growth strategy, which relies heavily on decentralized execution supported by strong regional leadership. Merritt’s experience managing large-scale distribution operations is also aligned with OLS’s focus on integrating multiple businesses under a unified national platform.
Founder transition and continued board leadership
Brian Price, who founded Outdoor Living Supply in 2020, has guided the company from its early formation into a national distribution platform in just a few years. Under his leadership, OLS pursued a deliberate acquisition strategy aimed at building a best-in-class network of outdoor living distributors while preserving local identity and operational independence.
As Price transitions to Founder and Chair of the Board, he will continue to play a central role in shaping the company’s strategic direction. His ongoing involvement is expected to provide continuity during the leadership transition, ensuring alignment between OLS’s founding principles and its future growth trajectory.
Price noted that the company has reached an important milestone in its evolution, supported by strong leadership, a growing geographic footprint, and a scalable operational model. He emphasized that Merritt’s appointment represents a continuation of OLS’s long-term strategy rather than a departure from its original vision.
Investor confidence and board perspective
The leadership transition has also been welcomed by OLS’s investors and board members, who view the appointment as a reinforcement of the company’s growth-oriented strategy.
Charles Fleischmann, a member of the OLS Board of Directors and Partner at Trilantic North America, highlighted the company’s strong performance since its inception and its positioning within the fragmented outdoor living distribution market.
Chief Executive Officer Outdoor Living Supply Names John Merritt as Chief Executive Officer
Trilantic North America, which invested in OLS in late 2020, has supported the company’s acquisition-driven growth model and its efforts to build a scaled national platform. According to board leadership, Merritt’s appointment reflects a commitment to strengthening operational capabilities while continuing to pursue disciplined expansion opportunities.
Fleischmann emphasized Merritt’s track record in managing complex organizations and his experience in building products distribution as key factors that make him well-suited to lead OLS through its next phase.
Strategic outlook for Outdoor Living Supply
The outdoor living and landscaping distribution sector has experienced steady growth in recent years, driven by increased investment in residential outdoor spaces, home improvement trends, and contractor demand for specialized materials. Within this environment, OLS has positioned itself as a consolidator of regional distributors, aiming to create scale advantages while maintaining local service quality.
The company’s strategy focuses on combining organic growth with acquisitions, integrating acquired businesses into a unified operational framework while preserving their market expertise and customer relationships. This hybrid approach has allowed OLS to expand its geographic reach while continuing to serve a diverse customer base across different regions.
With Merritt stepping into the CEO role, OLS is expected to further strengthen its operational infrastructure, enhance supply chain coordination, and deepen supplier partnerships. His background suggests a focus on efficiency improvements and scalable systems designed to support continued acquisition activity.
A new phase of leadership continuity and expansion
The appointment of John Merritt marks a significant leadership milestone for Outdoor Living Supply as it transitions from its early-stage growth phase into a more mature platform company. The combination of founder-led continuity through Brian Price’s board role and experienced operational leadership under Merritt is intended to provide balance between strategic vision and execution discipline.
As OLS continues to expand its national footprint, the company is expected to maintain its focus on culture, customer relationships, and decentralized operational strength while pursuing new opportunities in the fragmented outdoor living distribution market.
With strong backing from investors, a proven acquisition strategy, and new executive leadership in place, Outdoor Living Supply enters its next phase positioned for continued growth and long-term industry consolidation.
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