Axcent Sports has held the license to sell and design Descente apparel for the bike and run market in North America, Europe and Australia since 2002. Most of the company’s European business has been done through third-party distributors, but the company, headed by former Pearl iZUMi & Hind vet Hugh Walton, will be launching its own EU subsidiary this year. Olivier Tijtgat, formerly a sales manager for Dina Sport of Belgium, has been hired as director of sales and marketing for Descente Athletic in Europe. The company’s headquarters will be Oldenzaal, Holland.