City Sports named Ted Manning as chief merchandising officer. Manning joins City Sports following nearly two decades of service with outdoor retailer Eastern Mountain Sports, most recently as their executive vice president, where he developed strategies for retail expansion, merchandising, product development and marketing.

“As someone who has built his career and personal interests around the sporting goods industry, I am ecstatic to join the City Sports family as Chief Merchandising Officer,” said Manning. “I look forward to furthering the brand’s stellar reputation as a trusted icon and go-to leader in specialty athletic retail.”

Manning began his career at EMS in store management, climbing the ranks to hold posts as a product manager, merchandise director and vice president/general merchandise manager.  In 2009, Manning was awarded with the Sporting Goods Business “Top 40 Under 40” Award, which recognized his accomplishments in the outdoor retail category.

“We are thrilled to add a true sporting goods retail veteran as passionate as Ted Manning to our executive team,” said City Sports President and CEO Edward Albertian. 

“With his proven industry track record, Ted is the perfect choice to lead all facets of merchandising efforts as we continue to grow our retail experience to the next level.”

Manning’s appointment follows the hiring of City Sports new CFO Andrew Almquist last month, which officially marked the company’s 30th anniversary. 

The brand ushered in the March milestone with the opening of a new store in Boston and one at 50 Broadway in New York City, the latter being City Sports largest retail outpost to date.

Founded in Boston in 1983, the company operates 21 metropolitan stores across the East Coast, with locations in Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington, D.C.