Columbia Sportswear Company has appointed William Tung to the post of Director of International Sales and Operations. Tung, who will report directly to president & CEO Tim Boyle, will be responsible for establishing and maintaining an international distribution and licensing network for the sale of Columbia Sportswear apparel and footwear globally.
As Director, Tung will, in part, be responsible for maximizing sales and strengthening overall brand positioning worldwide. He will also continue the development of international retail and distribution programs for Columbia and subsidiaries, as previously shaped by his predecessor Greg Barron. Barron, who started with Columbia in 1996, oversaw a compounded annual growth rate of 30% in Columbia's international business during his seven year tenure. He will retire in August of this year.
Tung brings more than fifteen years of international sales and marketing management experience to Columbia Sportswear, most recently as the Regional Director of The Body Shop International plc headquartered in the United Kingdom. Prior to that, Tung spent seven years with The Rockport Company (Division of RBK International Ltd.) in Asian and European regional management roles. In both positions, Tung was responsible for developing and executing strategic plans focusing on retail expansion, new marketing initiatives, and product development.
As one of the world's largest outerwear brands, Columbia currently distributes products in over 50 countries throughout North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australasia. The Company maintains international sales operations throughout Europe, Canada, Japan and Korea.
“With overall international sales climbing, Tung will be an asset as Columbia continues to leverage the brand in markets outside the US,” said Boyle. “We look forward to benefiting from his expertise and experience.”
Tung, proficient in Mandarin, has a MBA in International Management from the American Graduate Institute of International Management (Thunderbird) and a BS in Finance from Pennsylvania State University. He is married with two children.
