SGB Executive Sports & Fitness
EXEC: PTP Fitness Appoints Trainer Gunnar Peterson as Performance Director
PTP Fitness, an Australian training brand, named Gunnar Peterson as performance director and investor. Peterson has decades of experience training athletes in professional sports (NBA (LA Lakers), NFL, and MBA, as well as in the entertainment arts.
EXEC: Jefferies Analyst Bullish On Nike ACG Relaunch
Randy Konik, an analyst at Jefferies, issued a note touting the potential of Nike’s relaunch of ACG as a standalone outdoor-performance brand amid strong underlying demand for outdoor sportswear. He wrote, “This is a smart, potentially material move.”
Footasylum CEO Departs
Footasylum CEO David Pujolar has left the UK-based retailer. No reason reported. Stephan Rahmede, senior representative for Aurelius WaterRise, the in-house operations advisory team for Aurelius Group, and the owner of Footasylum, will take over in an interim capacity.
EXEC: Asics Corp. Completes Strong 2025 on the Back of Lifestyle Categories
The company saw all categories and regions post increases for the year, but that momentum was not necessarily balanced across the portfolio, either from a sales trend, sales contribution, or profit contribution basis. SportStyle and Onitsuka Tiger each posted growth exceeding 43 percent for the year.
EXEC: Nike CEO Heralds ACG’s Outdoor Opportunity at Milano Cortina Olympics
In a televised interview with Bloomberg in Milan at the Winter Olympics, Nike President and CEO Elliott Hill hyped Nike’s rediscovered potential in the outdoor category through the relaunch of ACG (All Conditions Gear), eyeing major growth opportunities beyond the brand’s focus on trail running.
EXEC: Callaway Golf CEO Talks About a Return to a Pure Play Golf Equipment Company
Looking ahead, CALY is pulling back on sales of some lower-margin categories and channels across the business, making incremental investments in its fitting program, and making some changes to its launch cadences.
EXEC: Dick’s SG Scores Upgrade from Baird, Eyes Strong Foot Locker Recovery Potential
Baird raised its rating on Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc. to “Outperform” from “Neutral” due in part to bullishness on a robust recovery of the recently-acquired Foot Locker business. Analyst Jonathan Komp wrote in a note, “We are impressed by Dick’s productivity gains vs. pre-COVID levels and bullish on the multi-year Foot Locker recovery (levered to NKE’s turn).”
EXEC: Yonex Company Posts Strong Sales and Solid Profits for Fiscal Q3 Year-to-Date Period
Net sales amounted to ¥120.4 billion for the nine-month (YTD) period ended December 31, representing an 18.4 percent year-over-year (y/y) increase versus the prior-year YTD period. The increase came despite negative translation effects of the stronger yen on overseas operations.
EXEC: Interactive Strength Files Suit Against Sportstech Brands and Founder Over Loan Default
The complaint seeks full repayment of the outstanding balance together with default interest and enforcement costs equaling $6 million. The company further announced that a public auction of 100 percent of the shares in Sportstech, pledged to Interactive Strength, will be held on March 11 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
EXEC: Citi Downgrades Under Armour to “Sell” on Competitive Pressures
Citi Research downgraded Under Armour to “Sell” from “Neutral,” warning that the company’s North America (NAM) turnaround faces challenges against heightened competition and a reliance on promotions.
EXEC: Mizuno Breaks Records for Fiscal 9-Month Period But Americas Profit Hurt by Tariffs
While the company said overseas economies also experienced steady growth, it also took a respectful Japanese swipe at the U.S. tariff situation by noting that “uncertainty persisted both domestically and internationally due to factors such as trade policies of various countries and rising prices affecting personal consumption.”
EXEC: Descente’s Sales Dip in Fiscal Q3, Record Profits in Nine Months
Descente reported earnings declined 1.4 percent in the fiscal third quarter ended December 31 as sales slid 3.2 percent. However, the Japan-based sporting goods manufacturer still posted record profits in the nine months, driven by strong sales in China.
EXEC: Gant to Bring Footwear Ops In-House Under Gant Footwear AB
The U.S.-founded, Sweden-based brand will conclude its licensing agreement with Hamm Footwear GmbH, effective with the Spring/Summer 2027 season, and will take its footwear operations in-house “as part of its continued focus on strengthening the brand and business over time.”
EXEC: WFSGI Appoints Global Public Affairs and Advocacy Chief
Alexandra Knezovich has reportedly worked across Latin America, Africa, Europe, and Asia throughout her career, engaging a broad range of stakeholders including governments, international institutions, corporates, NGOs, donors, and academic partners.
EXEC: Under Armour Sees NA Business on Road to Stabilization
Under Armour Inc.’s North America sales tumbled 10 percent in the fiscal third quarter ended December 31, but Kevin Plank, president, CEO and founder, told analysts the region is “beginning to turn the corner” and on the path towards its goal of stabilizing in fiscal 2027. He said, “Traffic, yes, remained soft, but underlying indicators are improving.”
