Doug Kelly has been named president of Russell Athletic. He will be responsible for Russells retail, team sports, college bookstore, and licensed products businesses, as well as the Bike and Discus Athletic Brands. Kelly has extensive experience managing sports related consumer product companies for over 26 years.
“We are extremely pleased to have someone with Dougs knowledge and experience moving into this very important role,” said John Holland, chairman and CEO of Russell Corporation as well as president and CEO of Fruit of the Loom. “We know he will lead the Russell Athletic group to the next level.”
“This is a tremendous opportunity for me to lead one of Americas most established sporting goods brand,” said Kelly. “I am looking forward to growing and expanding the Russell brand and product.”
“Russell Athletic, being a member of the Berkshire Hathaway family of companies, understands brand investing and I look forward to managing one of its portfolio brands.”
Kelly began his career in 1974 with Converse, Inc. and then in 1980 moved to Curley-Bates Co., the organization that exclusively marked and distributed Mizuno and Easton sport brands throughout North America. In 1986, he was named president and CEO of Easton Sports, Inc. when Easton Inc. purchased Curley-Bates. From 1994 until 2000, Kelly was president and chief operating officer of Pro Player Sports Apparel. Over the past six years, he has served as president and CEO of Imperial Home Décor Group, Inc., Unibic North America Inc.
Kelly has also served on the Boards of Schutt Sports, Hoyt Bow Company, and Easton Sports, Inc. He is a past Board member with the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association and the World Federation of Sporting Goods.
A graduate of Villanova University with a B.A. in economics, Kelly has also studied in the executive programs at Stanford University graduate School of Business and the UCLA Graduate School of Business.
