Smith & Wesson Corp. promoted Sue Cupero to the newly created position of senior director of sales for Smith & Wesson.

Outdoor Research hired Liz Braund, a veteran with 20 years of experience in outdoor and active apparel product development, as its new head of product.

La Sportiva hired Jeff Sadler as national sales manager. Sadler joins the brand from Deuter.

Puma signed a long-term contract with soccer player Jozy Altidore. Altidore will be the face of North American soccer for Puma.

CEP and Medi GmbH& Co. shared that April Wilson has joined the CEP and Medi division as footwear category manager.

Columbia and Icebug are the two latest footwear manufacturers to adopt Ice Control Technology developed by the R&D department of Michelin Technical Soles.

RG Barry Brands Inc. appointed footwear industry executive Bob Mullaney as president and chief executive officer

Grassroots Outdoor Alliance welcomed Cascades Outdoor Store, Outdoor Gear Exchange and Townsend Bertram & Co. to its independent retailer network.

Global Brand Partners Pte. Ltd., the exclusive global apparel and footwear licensee of Beachbody, partnered with two-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion Bruno Pucci.

JackRabbit acquired Rogue Running, which operates one store in Austin.

Stabil, a leading U.S. manufacturer of traction footwear, and the National Park Foundation (NPF) have formed a four-year partnership.

Wayne Kulkin, former CEO of Stuart Weitzman, has launched a new business venture with investment partner Hilco Global, called StreetTrend LLC.

Japanese apparel group TSI Holdings said it plans to acquire a 90 percent ownership stake in Huf Holdings’ skate brand Huf.

SPIbelt acquired the running gear division of Nite Beams LED safety accessories.

Puma has reached an agreement to replace Nike as the kit sponsor of Manchester City.

Asics and PHIT America have partnered to bring a running program to Hornsby-Dunlap Elementary School, an elementary school in Austin, TX.

Polar welcomed 17-time NCAA champion and Kenyan-born professional distance runner Ed Cheserek to its Pro team.

The University of South Alabama formed a new partnership with Adidas in which the Portland, OR-based company will be the official athletic apparel and accessories brand for the Jaguars.

Rocky Brands Inc. announced the sale of its Creative Recreation brand to a private investment group.

Photo courtesy Puma