Ocean & Earth Products Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Australia-based Ocean & Earth Group, appointed Dave Nielsen as vice president in charge of sales, marketing and operation of the brand's surf, snow and wake bags, and accessories and clothing business in the USA. He will report directly to Ocean & Earth Group CEO Paul Munten, whose prior role as COO of the company's Australian operations was last month expanded within the Group to include international duties.
Nielsen re-enters the action sports arena after an eight-year stint consulting in the Southern California coastal real estate industry and on special events and attractions for the Walt Disney Company. Nielsen was from 1999 to 2002 a partner at Cordell Surfboards, responsible for international sales and marketing in Japan, where he is credited with opening more than 70 dealers, establishing Cordell as the fastest-growing surfboard brand in the nation. Prior to Cordell, he founded and designed Handcarved USA, a line of durable, “eco-friendly,” long-range surf travel gear.
“Dave has a strong retail background with great references from store owners and industry peers, and he brings with him operational competence that will help take the business to the next level, as we continue fueling our commitment to the U.S. market,” said Munten.
Nielsen made his entrée into surf manufacturing in 1981 as a co-founder of Prolite International in Newport Beach, Calif. The brand was the first surfboard travel bag line suitable for airline use and, as such, helped birth the surfboard travel bag category. Prolite eventually grew to include a wide array of authentic “handmade in California” core surf-related accessories.
In 1986, Quiksilver acquired Prolite, and Nielsen was retained by the organization as senior division manager, Quiksilver and Prolite accessories. He held that position until 1992, overseeing design, development and intellectual property matters, as well as international and domestic sales and marketing.
In the '70s, Nielsen was a documentary film intern in Santa Barbara, Calif., and traveled internationally as a flight attendant based out of Honolulu for Western Airlines. Additionally, he was featured by the airline as a world-travelling surfer in its marketing campaigns.
“I'm really looking forward to personally reinforcing Ocean & Earth's commitment as an established, authentic surf brand founded in the '70s; as standing on common ground with its surf specialty dealers,” says Nielsen. “As with Ocean & Earth, these core shops have their own unique roots, histories and identities, and it's important we understand and respect their roles in representing our product day-to-day, appreciating their shared passion for the lifestyle we represent, which they live every day.”
