Decathlon France, which generated about $4.5 billion in sales in 2013, has announced that Nicolas Pelletier will replace departing CEO Stéphane Saigre March 1, when he rejoins the retailer's Starboard water sports brand as a director.
Pelletier, who is shown to the right, is currently director of the running brand Kalenji, one of several in-house brands owned by Decathlon. Like Saigre, he is a sports enthusiast who came up through the ranks at Decathlon, which operates 262 stores that employ about 15,000 people and generated sales of €3.4 billion in 2013.
“With my team, I want to continue the work of Stéphane Saigre and wishes to Decathlon France a committed player in the development of sport in our country, from beginners to experienced,” said Pelletier, who is a running enthusiast.
Pelletier first joined Decathlon in 1996 when he responded to a posting for a job working in the fishing department at Decathlon Poitiers. He moved up to department manager, regional sales manager, assistant manager and store manager before taking a position as product manager at Kalenji in 2005, where he subsequently was promoted to director of supply and then, in 2008, manager.
Saigre, who has served as CEO of Decathlon France for seven years, is an avid water sports fan and surfer who has also spent much of work life at Decathlon. After eight years managing Decathlon stores, including a stint with Decathlon Wagram in Paris, Saigre left for Belgium and the Netherlands to head up product development for Starboard. In 2008, he was appointed general manager of Decathlon France.
