Elysa Walk, General Manager of Giant USA announced she will resign Nov. 6 to take a new position with Burton Snowboards in Vermont.
In an email sent to the company’s staff and to Giant retailers, Walk said, “It is with a very heavy heart that I am hereby announcing that I have resigned from Giant. I am leaving the industry to pursue a new opportunity that offers me career advancement and an exciting opportunity for the future.”
Walk, pictured to the right, has been with Giant for 11 years. She was promoted to general manager seven years ago. During her tenure as G.M., she’s guided Giant USA through a period of remarkable growth and success. More Giant-produced bicycles and gear are sold throughout the country than ever before, and the company’s three brands Giant, the women’s brand Liv, and the Momentum brand of lifestyle bikes have all made substantial gains in US Market Share.
Walk has been instrumental in launching the Liv brand to serve the needs of female riders, offering the only comprehensive product collection designed specifically for the woman cyclist. She’s also actively taken part in bicycle industry advocacy, including Board roles in People for Bikes, the Outdoor Industry Women’s Coalition, and the Bicycle Product Suppliers Association.
Through her time as Giant USA General Manager, the brand broke new ground in several areas. Giant was the first major bicycle brand to completely commit to the superior 27.5-inch wheel mountain bike platform. Giant and Liv road bikes have won countless awards for innovation and design. This past spring, the Momentum brand of mobility-focused, attractive, affordable bicycles was launched to great success.
In her message, Walk announced that Executive Director John “JT” Thompson will take over as Giant USA general manager.
“Having worked closely with him for these past four years, I have complete confidence in him and the team’s ability to lead this organization forward,” she wrote. “I’m super excited to watch the heights the organization reaches in the future.”
Calling her decision to leave “gut wrenching,” Walk said, “I have put my heart and soul into this company and the Giant team for 11 years. You all have enriched my life and my career in extraordinary ways that will stay with me forever. I love Giant and our Giant retailers, and want the best for them all in the future.”
