Prince Sports, Inc. has hired former Nike and Adidas executive George
Poulos as the companys new Global Category Director in charge of
footwear. In his new role, Poulos will be responsible for refining and
managing Princes implementation of the companys global strategic plan
for the category which encompasses US and international markets, a
range of consumer targets from frequent players to leisure usage, as
well as varied channels of distribution and price points.
“I am thrilled to join Prince, a brand that is held in high regard by
other footwear companies, knowledgeable tennis players and retailers,”
said Poulos. “Prince is an industry leader, a forward thinking
company that has, in the last few years, brought some of the most
innovative products to market. The company is poised for growth
in the coming years and I am excited to help them achieve that.
More importantly, I am completely focused on delivering players
the best tennis footwear available.”
Poulos comes to Prince with seventeen years of proven, global
experience in product and brand marketing, key account sales, and
merchandising for footwear, apparel, and accessory product lines.
He was an integral part of the management teams at Nike, Adidas,
and Russell Athletics. While with Nike, Poulos spent ten years in sales
as a territory representative before moving on to manage several key
accounts. For over three years, he was Nikes Product Line Manager for
Men's, Women's and Kids tennis and also held the position of Category
Sales Manager for both tennis footwear and apparel. While with
Adidas, Poulos was a key account manager for apparel and was involved
in the merchandising, marketing and line direction for their tennis
collection.
An avid tennis player with a passion and knowledge for the game, Poulos
played varsity tennis at the University of North Carolina where he
completed his undergraduate studies before going on to get his
M.P.A./M.B.A (Combined Masters in Public Affairs and Business) from the
University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He has also worked as a
teaching professional, and as a Tennis Magazine playtester.
Originally from central New Jersey, Poulos currently lives outside
Atlanta with his wife and two sons but will be returning to the Garden
State in coming months.
“George is the perfect person to lead and build a category where we've
had some success and are looking to do more,” said George Napier, CEO
of Prince Sports, Inc. “He has the background and energy to help
us solidify our position in the US and to expand our business
internationally. We are delighted to have him join us.”
