Peak Achievement Athletics, Inc., the successor company to Performance Sports Group, has appointed Edward G. Kinnaly as the CEO of the Bauer, Cascade and Maverik businesses, effective June 1.
Kinnaly was previously with Bauer Hockey for 13 years, serving in the roles of executive vice president, global commerce and general manager, Europe. After his tenure with Bauer, Kinnaly went on to serve as president and chief executive officer of Flywheel Sports. He also held management roles with Nike and Adidas in marketing, product/category management and retail. A graduate of Babson College and a New England native, Kinnaly resides in New Castle with his wife Karen and their two sons.
The hiring comes months after private investors bought Performance Sports Group out of bankruptcy for $575 million in February. Performance Sports Group Ltd. sold substantially all of the assets of the company and its North American subsidiaries, including its European and global operations, to an acquisition vehicle co-owned by affiliates of Sagard Holdings Inc. and Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. On February 28, Performance Sports Group said a search for a permanent CEO was underway following the sale. Harlan Kent, who previously served as the CEO of Performance Sports Group, continued to lead the business on an interim basis.
Paul Desmarais, III, chairman of Peak Achievement Athletics, Inc. and executive chairman of Sagard Holdings, said of Kinnaly’s appointment: “We are excited to have Ed Kinnaly back home and ready to build upon the achievements of some of the most innovative and iconic brands in sports.”
Paul Rivett, president of Fairfax, said: “Ed is the right leader, given his prior long tenure with Bauer, to ensure that the culture of performance and innovation continues to grow and thrive.”
Kinnaly said: “I’m thrilled to be back working with the teams at Bauer, Maverik and Cascade. I’m energized by the mission ahead – creating products that elevate our athletes performance, delighting our consumers, driving the success of our retail partners and creating a world-class company culture.”
Sagard and Fairfax have determined that Easton should be operated on an independent decentralized basis. A search is currently nearing conclusion for a CEO for the Easton business, who will serve with Kinnaly as Co-CEO of Peak Achievement Athletics, Inc. Kinnaly and his Peak Co-CEO will succeed Harlan Kent, to whom the company is indebted for his leadership and dedication.
Photo courtesy Bauer
