Aqualung appointed Jason Spradling as director of Dive, North America.
Serving as a key member of Aqualung Group’s North American Management Team, Spradling will be responsible for leading, managing and executing sales and business development strategies across the United States and Canada. He will lead the Dive sales organization and help shape, develop and deploy the long-term growth strategy for the North American region. Located in the Vista, CA regional headquarters, Spradling reports to Andrew Gritzbaugh, GM, North America, Aqualung Group.
“Diving has always been a passion of mine,” said Spradling. “To be fortunate enough to play a key role in the next chapter of such an iconic brand is truly an honor. The opportunity I see within Aqualung’s portfolio of brands is incredibly exciting. Market-leading products and technologies, compelling price points and new best-in-class tools and system upgrades will not only allow us to be the best in this space but will also help lower the barrier of entry for new participants. We are not just looking to push the brand forward, we are looking to push the industry forward and make the sport more accessible.”
Most recently, Spradling drove the Outdoor Performance business for Under Armour with a focus on the water, snow and trail categories. Over eight years, he was instrumental in the growth and development of those categories through fostering a culture of cross-functional collaboration within its marketing, merchandising, finance, and product teams.
Prior to his working for Under Armour, he was a buyer/manager for an outdoor specialty retailer and led guided whitewater rafting and rock-climbing expeditions.
“Jason’s progressive professional experience in the Outdoor Industry, distinct perspective on growing premium brands in specialty retail and passion for Diving make him a fitting addition to the Aqualung Group team,” said Gritzbaugh. “He will play a key role in developing the Aqualung Group North America operation and help advance our brand strategy and modernization initiatives. We’re very excited to have him join the team.”
The Aqualung Group product portfolio includes Aqualung, Apeks, Omer, Aquasphere, U.S. Divers, and Stohlquist.
Photo courtesy Aqualung
