German luxury apparel and skiwear brand Bogner has appointed Arne Freundt, former CEO at Puma, as its new chief executive officer, effective June 1. The appointment follows the acquisition last September of a 60 percent stake in Bogner by Katjes Quiet Luxury GmbH, the investment subsidiary of German-based Katjes International GmbH & Co.
Author: Thomas J. Ryan
Thomas J. Ryan
Senior Business Editor | SGB Media
tryan@sgbonline.com | 917.375.4699

EXEC: Varsity Brands CEO Adam Blumenfeld Eyes Growth Opps in Soccer and Lacrosse
Adam Blumenfeld, CEO of Varsity Brands, the parent company of BSN Sports and Varsity Spirit, spoke with SGB Executive about the potential synergies and opportunities arising from BSN Sports’ acquisition of Sports Endeavors, the operator of Soccer.com and lacrosse retailer Lax.com.

EXEC: Gordini USA President Talks 70 Years of Warmth – and New Categories Ahead
David Gellis, president at Gordini USA, talked to SGB Executive about the iconic winter glove maker’s 70-year heritage, its recent entry into the sock category, current business conditions and future plans.

EXEC: Talking Socks with Darn Tough’s Parent President, Angelica Taylor
Angelica Taylor, who was promoted to president of Darn Tough Vermont’s parent company, Cabot Hosiery Mills (CHM), in February, talked with SGB Executive about Darn Tough’s history, the brand’s recent success, its commitment to U.S. production, and sock trends.

EXEC: Academy’s Chief Merchant Talks ‘Better, Best’ Push, Commitment to Newness
Matt McCabe, EVP and chief merchandising officer at Academy Sports + Outdoors, spoke with SGB Executive about the chain’s evolving merchandise strategy, including pushes to feature more premium product, prioritize newness, and reduce out-of-stocks and markdowns. He also shared fresh insights into the Academy shopper.

EXEC: Academy Sports Sets Roadmap to $8 Billion in Revenues
At an Analyst Day event in New York City, Academy Sports revealed a five-year plan to reach $8 billion in sales, largely through the opening of 125 new stores, while improving operating margins from 9 percent to 10 percent. Around merchandising, CEO Steve Lawrence said growth is expected to benefit from a “steady diet of newness,” including new categories, new national brands and private labels, and an amplification of “good, better, best” offerings.

EXEC: Selkirk Sport’s Co-Founders Discuss Pickleball’s Next Phase of Growth
Selkirk Sport’s Co-CEOs, Mike and Rob Barnes, spoke with SGB Executive about the pickleball brand’s recent funding round from Bluestone Equity Partners, pickleball paddles and footwear innovation, the competitive landscape, and pickleball growth drivers.

EXEC: Brooks President Matt Dodge Discusses Emerging Growth Drivers
Matt Dodge, president and COO at Brooks Running, talked with SGB Executive about the running brand’s growth in 2025, what’s working in performance run, the company’s latest lifestyle range, tariffs, and plans to build on its momentum in 2026.

EXEC: The Footwear and Apparel Brands Bringing the Brand Heat in 2026
L.E.K. Consulting Group released its fifth annual 2026 U.S. Footwear, Apparel, and Accessories Brand Heat Index, identifying the brands that have gained popularity, or increasing brand “heat,” across major product categories across the generations in women’s and men’s footwear, apparel, as well as outdoor equipment and sporting goods.

EXEC: FDRA’s Matt Priest Talks SCOTUS Tariff Ruling Fallout
Matt Priest, president and CEO the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA), talked with SGB Executive on Friday, February 20, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision ruling that struck down most of President Trump’s global tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, including the likely benefits for the footwear industry, the path to refund payouts and where prices could be heading.

EXEC: Nike CEO Heralds ACG’s Outdoor Opportunity at Milano Cortina Olympics
In a televised interview with Bloomberg in Milan at the Winter Olympics, Nike President and CEO Elliott Hill hyped Nike’s rediscovered potential in the outdoor category through the relaunch of ACG (All Conditions Gear), eyeing major growth opportunities beyond the brand’s focus on trail running.

EXEC: HydraPak’s CEO Talks Up Hydration’s OEM and Brand Opportunities
Matt Lyon, president and CEO of HydraPak LLC, spoke with SGB Executive about the ever-evolving and trendy hydration opportunity, including his company’s two-pronged approach to the category as both an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) supporting over 120 brands and a direct-to-consumer (DTC) brand with HydraPak.

EXEC: Eddie Bauer Retail Stores Commence GOB Sales After Sales Fall 19 Percent Since 2022
Eddie Bauer, LLC, the entity operating Eddie Bauer’s stores in the U.S. and Canada, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with a plan to close its 175 stores in North America while seeking a sale. In court papers, the company said a post-pandemic slowdown in outdoor-related sales, inflation, and U.S. tariffs had caused annual losses over the last four years and a 19 percent drop in sales since 2022.

EXEC: BNP Paribas Calls Out Shift Back to “Dressy Offerings” and Away from Athleisure
Analysts at BNP Paribas became the latest Wall Street firm to call out a “return to dress” following a long trend toward athleisure and more casual offerings. The shift is expected to be beneficial to Levi Strauss, Steve Madden and Zara-parent Inditex while presenting headwinds for Lululemon, Nike, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Wolverine Worldwide.

EXEC: VF Corp. Earnings Look Ahead Notes Possible Q3 Upside from Weather, Debate on Vans Turnaround
VF Corp. is expected by several analysts to deliver third-quarter earnings in line or potentially ahead of guidance when it reports on Wednesday, January 28,, as cold weather likely helped fuel a strong holiday quarter for The North Face and Timberland. However, skepticism remains high on whether Vans’ recovery is gaining traction.










