Aqualung Group, the manufacturer of diving equipment and watersports, named Scott Rittschof president of Aqualung Group, North America.
Rittschof, an outdoor sports industry veteran, marks a new phase for the company in the scuba diving category and in growing its freediving, swim, snorkeling, and paddling segments under brands including Aqualung, Apeks, Aquasphere, Omer, Military Professional, Stohlquist, and U.S. Divers.
Appointed by Bruno Cercley, former president and CEO of Rossignol Group, who joined the company as executive chairman of its Board in June 2022, Rittschof will lead the North American business, which accounts for half of the group’s revenue. His role includes building the overall strategy for its brand portfolio across retail and digital, updating its distribution model and expanding brand engagement.
Based in Carlsbad, CA, the company’s North American headquarters, Rittschof’s official start date is August 15.
“As Aqualung Group moves into the next stage of growth, Scott will play an important role in further solidifying our brand position in the very dynamic ‘blue outdoor’ segment,” said Cercley. “Speaking from my personal and professional experience with Scott, he is the ideal leader to drive our transformation and efficiency improvement plans in North America as part of the global Group initiative.”
Most recently, Rittschof was VP of the Bike Division at Pierer E-bikes North America, a European manufacturer of motorized two-wheelers, in 2021 when the company acquired the Felt brand from Group Rossignol. In this role, he led the company acquisition and transition to new ownership. Before that, he held leadership roles at the Pon Bicycle Group and Cycling Sports Group.
Photo courtesy Aqualung Group
