Inov-8 recently hired Gordon Baird as its CEO. He was most recently at Americana, the company behind the Bench clothing brand, having previously held managing director positions at Timberland Europe, Adidas Northern Europe and Dunlop Slazenger International as well as group president of heritage brands at Wolverine World Wide.

He comes to Inov-8, which markets running footwears, with a track record of strategic brand building and international market development.

Robert Perkins, who joined Inov-8 as global operations director in 2008 and assumed CEO responsibility in 2011 will stand down after three years in the role delivering strong profit and growth. Perkins has been instrumental in Inov-8's huge growth over the last five years, building a team of 70 staff, 30 sales agents and 30 distributors across the globe. 

“We are very grateful for Robert's huge contribution to Inov-8,” said Inov-8 Founder Wayne Edy. “He joined the business when we were very small and played a major role in building our U.K., U.S. and international businesses before taking on the CEO role. As chief executive, Robert has helped develop and maintain Inov-8's unique culture, brand positioning and successful track record in product innovation. He stands down with the business in great shape and with a strong order book for 2014.”

Gordon said he has been impressed with the authenticity of the Inov-8 brand.

 

“It’s real and has that special quality about it that brands get when everyone in the business believes in and shares the same goals,” he said. “I see a real opportunity to build on the great work that has been done already at Inov-8 and grow a truly world class business on the international stage.”