Easton-Bell Sports has created a new organization that centralizes product development, design, engineering, and product costing across the company’s flagship brands – Easton, Bell, Giro and Riddell. Hugh Hamill has been appointed senior vice president of product creation and tapped to lead the effort.
“Our individual brands have long been leaders in product innovation, material selection, and engineering,” said President and CEO Paul Harrington. “Formalized sharing of these key competencies across brands, along with a renewed emphasis on design and costing, will enable us to bring compelling product innovations to market faster for our global consumers.”
At the forefront of the new organization is the Easton-Bell Sports Helmet Technology Center in Scotts Valley, California, also called The Dome. The first innovation to debut from The Dome is the fielder’s helmet prototype designed to give head protection to baseball pitchers and infielders. Launched in March 2011, the helmet fits over a baseball cap and uses lightweight energy management materials to provide protection to the most vulnerable areas of the head, without compromising comfort or performance.
In addition, Giro’s launch this spring of high-performance cycling footwear illustrates the potential for the soft goods side of the product portfolio. Giro designers called upon Easton’s engineering expertise to develop an ultra-thin carbon fiber sole for its line of cycling shoes that redefine fit, power transfer and adjustability.
“We are now sharing industry-leading knowledge across our businesses and becoming an innovation leader for all our sports,” said Hamill. “Our goal is to maximize the strength of our people and our geographic locations to create a global product development and design team which takes advantage of the best and brightest minds across the company.”
Hamill, a 25-year product development veteran, joined Easton-Bell Sports in 2009. Well accustomed to leading innovation and operations teams, he has extensive international experience in manufacturing, advance concepts and costing. Prior to joining Easton-Bell Sports, Hamill was senior vice president brand operations � footwear, apparel and advanced development for Reebok. He is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University.
