Newton Running named Craig Heisner as its president, effective immediately. Heisner most recently served as VP of marketing, sales and product merchandising at Li-Ning, where he led the Chinese companys introduction into the U.S. market.
Heisner overall has more than 20 years of marketing and sales for leading athletic footwear and apparel brands, including New Balance, Reebok, and Brooks Sports.
His appointment is designed to support the companys continued growth and expansion in the specialty running category. In his new position, Heisner will oversee the marketing, branding and sales for all current product lines. He will manage the sales and marketing departments at the company and will report directly to Cofounder and CEO Jerry Lee.
Craigs appointment underscores Newton Runnings commitment to continually creating and marketing products that improve the sport of running, said Jerry Lee, Cofounder and CEO of Newton Running. His proven success in the development and marketing of iconic athletic brands made him the perfect candidate to oversee the expansion of our current categories as well as contribute to future innovations.
Heisner was instrumental in the growth of the New Balance brand in the 1990s, serving as director for its running business unit. The business quintupled under his leadership. Previously, Heisner served as a global GM for running at Reebok before joining Brooks Sports as CMO and head of product. While at Brooks, he led the strategic turnaround of the company, re-focusing the brands efforts on performance running prior to the companys sale to Russell Corporation. He has also served as SVP of marketing at Bachrach Clothing and held other senior positions in the industry.
Newton Runnings leadership in the field, along with its unique combination of state-of-the-art proprietary technology and strong brand identity rooted in social responsibility, positions the company to become a lasting athletic brand, said Heisner. I have admired the brand since its launch and look forward to being a part of the companys continued success.
Heisner holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from the University of New Hampshire, and an M.B.A from the Graduate School of Business at Northeastern University.
Founded in Boulder, CO by a group of elite runners and coaches, Newton Running positions itself as the athletic footwear brand designed to support natural running motion. Using patented Action/Reaction technology, Newton Running shoes help runners achieve a faster, more efficient and injury-free midfoot/forefoot running form. In addition to its devotion to help people run better, Newton Running is dedicated to reducing the environmental impact of its products and is committed to be a responsible corporate citizen through the support of numerous charitable organizations. Newton Running is the official footwear and run course sponsor for IRONMAN as well as the official footwear of The BolderBOULDER 10k, the third largest running race in the United States.
