Christopher Mahony, PresidentOnce the pandemic subsided, Go RVing Canada’s President Christopher Mahony—an expert in successfully navigating unpredictable and changing business scenarios—took charge to revive the RV industry in Canada. The nonprofit organization reimagined the way it could promote RVs in Canada with him at the helm. He was the guiding force in developing and implementing various initiatives that apply innovative thinking to restore the industry to its former glory.
Prime among these initiatives is the awardwinning “Find Your Wildhood” campaign, which has consistently won the hearts of consumers since its inception. In its latest post-pandemic iteration, the campaign is instrumental in the rising consumer interest in exploring the outdoors and discovering their true selves away from the routines and pressures of the “new normal” world. In turn, it is successfully reviving the RV industry in Canada.
“I love leading and empowering teams to achieve collective goals that contribute to the growth and success of the business, positively impact stakeholders, and ultimately contribute to shaping the future of the industry,” says Mahony.
Helping Consumers Rediscover the Wilderness
An RV industry thought leader, Mahony’s expertise lies in building strategies and marketing campaigns that encourage consumers to experience the wonders of the RV lifestyle, including exploring the wilderness with their loved ones in motorhomes. He is wellversed with the responsibilities, challenges, and thrills of being in a position to set the strategic direction of an organization and drive positive change that ripples across the industry.
Mahony understands the importance of leaders staying agile, adaptable, and continually up-to-date with evolving market scenarios to meet the needs and preferences of consumers and deliver the best results to company stakeholders.
Operating in a leisure-driven and often expensive industry, RVs bring its challenges, especially during economic downturns that raise the issue of affordability. To combat this, Mahony always ensures his organization’s offerings are relevant with current trends and provides resources to aid with affordability.
However, his prime concern now is to bring potential consumers out of the COVID-induced mindset, where many still feel apprehensive of venturing too far outdoors and making elaborate travel plans. Mahony’s education and awareness drive is playing a significant role in giving them a much-needed push to go out and take in the full camping experience.
“We believe that getting families into the wilderness and camping is good for the soul. That is something we’re trying to reflect within our company’s culture and practices,” says Mahony.
Inspiring Leadership Traits for Business Success
Successfully revitalizing an entire industry through one organization’s initiatives is a feat that requires its key decisionmakers to nurture exceptional leadership traits. For Mahony, this implies having a visionary mindset, risk-taking ability, adaptability, passion, and drive, all compounded by excellent communication skills.
Mahony has honed all these traits for years, emerging as a leader with a strong vision. He plays a pivotal role in inspiring and guiding the Go RVing Canada team toward achieving organizational goals, contributing to the association’s rapid growth. In his 12 years with Go RVing Canada, it has grown from a small revenue model and a hundred thousand website visitors to more than two million unique website visitors and 14 percent of Canadian households owning RVs.
The chief driver of this growth is Mahony’s unique leadership style infused with creativity. This enables him to not just identify, tackle, and overcome trade barriers, but determine the right kind of RV to meet the travel, comfort, and budget needs of customers. This ability has particularly contributed to the growth of Go RVing Canada, and the Canadian RV industry in general.
The Road to Transforming the RV Industry
Mahony initially gained his leadership acumen in a different industry. A graduate from Oxford University, he worked in the notfor-profit confectionery sector in Canada, acting as the director of communications at the Confectionery Manufacturers Association of Canada (CMAC). He also worked for the International Confectionery Association, representing global confectionery brands such as Mars, Nestlé, Hershey’s, and Cadbury. In this role, he helped these brands handle government relations and streamline their marketing practices throughout Europe, North America, and Africa.
I love leading and empowering teams to achieve collective goals that contribute to the growth and success of the business, positively impact stakeholders, and ultimately contribute to shaping the future of the industry
Fostering Close Connections with the Wild
The “Find Your Wildhood” campaign exemplifies his ability to deliver value and exceptional experiences to consumers, empowering them to find their authentic selves by forming a close connection with the wild. More than an advertising campaign, it reflects Go RVing Canada’s brand ethos and passion for the RV lifestyle that stays true to its core organizational values.
Consumer response to the Wildhood campaign continues to be phenomenal. Clients routinely stress on its role in changing their perspective on life by spending quality time with their families while exploring the outdoors. RV dealers, manufacturers, and campgrounds are also enthusiastic witnesses to the transformative effects the campaign is bringing to the industry.
A passion for creating winning outcomes for businesses and driving industry-wide change with innovation, flexibility, and adaptability propels Mahony forward. An embodiment of all the traits necessary to excel as a visionary industry leader, he is steadfast on a mission to take the RV industry to greater heights amid constantly shifting business environments.
