The active lifestyle, outdoor and sporting goods industries saw plenty of executive appointments and promotions in 2018, with companies like Nike Inc. and VF Corp. among those that saw the most announcements throughout the year.
Nike made changes at the top for two of its brands. G. Scott Uzzell (pictured, above) will become president and CEO of Converse Inc. effective January 22, 2019, while Craig A. Williams will become president of Jordan Brand effective January 14, 2019.
Other news from those two brands: effective December 1, Carl Grebert, currently the VP, GM of the global Jordan Brand, will become the company’s new VP, GM of its Asia Pacific and Latin America (APLA) geography, and Ann Hebert, currently VP, GM of the APLA geography, will become the new VP, Global Sales. Converse appointed Sophie Bambuck to CMO.
Companywide, Nike appointed Kellie Leonard as its first-ever chief diversity and inclusion officer, and Tamika Curry Smith as its new VP of diversity and inclusion.
The company announced that Heidi O’Neill, president, Nike Direct, will expand her current role as leader of Nike physical retail stores and Nike.com to now include all Nike digital products, services and member experiences, effective immediately.
Nike appointed Noel Kinder to VP, chief sustainability officer. Kinder succeeds Hannah Jones, who became president of Nike Valiant Labs, the company’s in-house new business model incubator.
Other executive appointments include: Amy Montagne has become the new VP, GM of global categories; Dirk-Jan “DJ” van Hameren has been promoted to VP, chief marketing officer. Van Hameren succeeded Greg Hoffman, who has been appointed VP, Global Brand Creative & Marketing Innovation.
Nike Inc. announced that Rosemary St. Clair has become the new VP, GM of global women’s and Cesar Garcia is the new VP, GM global running, effective immediately.
At VF Corp.’s The North Face brand, the company appointed Jan Van Leeuwen to the position of vice president, general manager, The North Face, EMEA Region. It also appointed Travis Campbell to VP, GM, The North Face, Americas. Jean-Marc Djian is now vice president of global footwear.
News from the company’s other brands: Jennifer McLaren will succeed Campbell as president, Smartwool, and VF appointed Todd Dalhausser to the position of brand president, Altra. And Stefano Saccone is now vice president, general manager of Vans, EMEA. And the company appointed Velia Carboni as chief digital officer.
Here are other notable movers and shakers from 2018:
5.11 announced that Francisco Morales, co-founder and president of the brand, was appointed as the company’s CEO, effective September 4. 5.11 also announced the appointment of Matt Hyde as executive chairman.
Academy Sports + Outdoors appointed Ken C. Hicks, former CEO at Foot Locker Inc., as chairman and CEO. Departing CEO J.K. Symancyk left to head Petsmart. Michael Mullican was also appointed the retailer’s CFO.
Accell North America appointed W. John Short as CEO, and Stuart Johnson as chief marketing and digital officer.
Activbody appointed Dan Stevenson as the company’s new CEO.
Allbirds appointed Erick Haskell, formerly at Under Armour, as president of international.
Alterra Mountain Co. appointed Rusty Gregory as CEO.
Asics appointed Yasuhito Hirota as president
Assos of Switzerland appointed Derek Bouchard-Hall as the next CEO of the cycling brand. Phil Duff, current chairman and CEO will maintain his role as chairman of the board.
Big Lots Inc. appointed Bruce K. Thorn as CEO and president. He replaced David Campisi, who retired in April.
Boardriders Inc. appointed Dave Tanner as CEO.
Bridgestone Golf appointed Dan Murphy as president and CEO.
Burton announced that the company’s current president, John Lacy, will now share the CEO role with Burton’s co-owner and current CEO, Donna Carpenter. The company also named Sarah Crockett as the company’s new CMO.
Caleres appointed Molly Adams as president of Famous Footwear.
CamelBak appointed Greg Williamson as president of the company.
Canada Goose Holdings Inc. appointed Jonathan Sinclair as CFO and executive vice president.
Canaima Outdoors, the umbrella company for Boulder-based brands Treepod – Hanging Habitats and Slackline Industries, has appointed James Samuel as president.
Cascade Designs announced that Jerry Heinlen will be the company’s new CEO, Dave McDonald as SVP and COO, and Steve McClure as CFO.
Columbia Sportswear Co. appointed John Soh as vice president and general manager of China, effective February 2019, and Peter Ruppe as vice president of footwear for the Columbia Brand.
Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC announced that Elias J. Sabo, a founding partner of the company’s manager, Compass Group Management LLC (CGM), was appointed as CEO.
Deckers Brands announced the appointment of Steve Fasching to CFO
Dick’s Sporting Goods announced Vidya Jwala has been named chief e-commerce and supply chain officer.
Duckworth appointed Don Rogers as president.
Duluth Holdings Inc. (dba, Duluth Trading Company) announced that Senior Vice President Allen L. Dittrich will take on the new role of COO.
Eddie Bauer announced that Damien Huang has been named president.
Foot Locker Inc. appointed Elizabeth S. Norberg as senior vice president and chief human resources officer.
Gear Coop appointed Craig Levra as president.
HUF Worldwide LLC has appointed former Volcom executive Eddie Miyoshi as the company’s new CEO.
Iconix Brand Group Inc. appointed Robert Galvin as CEO, president and a member of the board of directors of the company.
J.C. Penney Co. Inc.’s board of directors appointed Jill Soltau as CEO and a member of the board of directors.
Julbo Eyewear, the French eyewear brand based in the Jura Mountains, has named David Crothers as the new CEO of U.S. operations.
Keen Inc. appointed Kate Sweeney as COO and Tyler LaMotte as CMO.
Kitsbow, maker of cycling clothing and accessories, appointed David Billstrom as CEO.
Lew’s Holdings Corp. promoted Ken Eubanks to CEO.
Lowa said that effective January 1, 2019, Alexander Nicolai will assume leadership of Lowa’s operative business activities as the new CEO. After heading Lowa for more than 25 years, Werner Riethmann will gradually begin to withdraw from daily business operations next year.
Lululemon Athletica Inc. appointed Calvin McDonald, who formerly led Sephora, to serve as CEO, effective August 20, 2018. The company also promoted Sun Choe to CFO.
Mustad and Son announced that Jordan Davis has accepted the position of president, Americas.
New Balance Athletics Inc. announced that President and CEO Rob DeMartini will step down effective December 31, and New Balance veteran Joe Preston will assume the role, while DeMartini is taking over USA Cycling.
Newell Brands appointed Christopher “Chris” H. Peterson as executive vice president, CFO.
Oofos appointed Steve Gallo as president.
Ortlieb Sportartikel GmbH hired Jürgen Siegwarth as CEO.
PacSun announced that Alfred Chang has been named president.
Pentland Brands Ltd. appointed Chirag Patel as COO, Katrina Nurse as CFO and Gianni Georgiades as CEO of Lacoste Footwear JV, effective May 8.
POC appointed Ben Coates as managing director for North America.
Reebok appointed Kelly Hibler as general manager, Reebok Classics business unit, and it appointed Todd Krinsky as general manager, Reebok Performance Business Unit.
Rip Curl announced that Kelly Gibson stepped down as CEO. Gibson also stepped down as SIMA president. SIMA’s board of directors appointed Shannan North of Billabong to fill the vacated president position.
Safilo Group S.p.A. appointed Angelo Trocchia as CEO.
Salewa North America, which operates the Dynafit, Salewa, Wild Country and Pomoca brands in the U.S. and Canada, named Drew Saunders as country manager.
Saucony, a division of Wolverine Worldwide Inc., named Don Lane as CMO.
Shoe Carnival Inc. appointed brand and marketing veteran Mark Worden to EVP, chief strategy and marketing officer.
Snapper Rock, the lifestyle swimwear brand, named DeAnna Lamphere as president.
Strava named Stephanie Hannon as chief product officer.
Surf9 appointed Brad Gruber as footwear division president.
Sufferfest, the beer brewed by athletes, for athletes, named Chris Strain president, effective immediately. Most recently, Strain served as CMO for Camelbak.
Tenkara USA has named industry veteran Patrick Stratton as CEO.
Thule Group appointed Nis Gjendal as vice president of global purchasing and member of group management.
Under Armour Inc. appointed Alessandro de Pestel as CMO.
Unifi Inc. appointed Helen M. Sahi as vice president, global corporate sustainability, and Jorge Salazar as GM, Unifi Central America Ltda. de CV (UCA).
Vista Outdoor Inc. named Miguel “Mick” Lopez as the company’s SVP and CFO.
Wolverine World Wide Inc. announced the appointment of Anne Cavassa as president of Saucony.
Photo courtesy Nike
