
Gregory Mountain Parent Announces Corporate Name Change
The company believes the new name — Samsonite Group — better reflects its portfolio of customer-centric brands under the Samsonite, Tumi, American Tourister, Gregory, High Sierra, Kamiliant, Lipault, and Hartmann brands as well as other owned and licensed brand names

Pearl Izumi Adds VP of Brand
Gwen van Lingen-OLY joins Pearl from Norco Bikes, where she was most recently head of the brand.

Recall: GiantMouse Pocket Folding Knives
The company sold roughly 600 recalled GM12 and GMP12 button-lock folding pocket knives with titanium or bronze milled scales. The folding knives’ locking mechanism could fail, posing a laceration hazard to the user.

Bass Pro Shops To Open Outdoor Superstore in Mississippi
The new 75,000-square-foot outdoor superstore is scheduled to open in 2027 along the I-10 corridor in Biloxi, MS. This will be the first Outdoor Superstore for Bass Pro Shops in southern Mississippi.

EXEC: Tern Bicycles Creates European Distribution Company
This transition also marks the end of Tern’s long-standing distribution partnership with Hartje. Tern ZE will stock Tern’s complete product line and will partner with i:SY GmbH & Co. KG to manage sales for its Tern dealer network in Germany, Austria and Benelux.

EXEC: ISPO Group Shuffles Show Leadership After Tobias Gröber Sets Departure
The ISPO Group expects limited disruption as Exhibition Director Lena Haushofer and her team assume Gröber’s responsibilities, with Christoph Rapp, head of Sales and Marketing, and Saskia Rettenbacher, head of Event Management.

Jogology Adds Indie Sales Rep for Northeast
Cole Crosby joins the company as an independent rep with a decade of experience working with brands and retailers in the run specialty channel. His territory for Jogology includes Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York.

NMMA Names New CFO as Craig Boskey Eyes February Retirement
Chase Warden assumes the role on February 10 as longtime NMMA CFO Craig Boskey retires at the end of the month following 20 years with the Association.

EXEC: REI Names Mary Beth Laughton as Next CEO as Eric Artz Plans Exit
Laughton, a former REI Board Director and seasoned retail leader, will join REI as president on February 3, 2025, before assuming full CEO responsibilities on March 31.

Oboz Names Lauren Colalillo as VP of Sales
Colalillo joins the company with over 15 years of sales leadership experience in the outdoor and sporting goods industries. Most recently, she was a senior sales director at Revelyst.

Pret Helmets Names Mark Cavanaugh as Company CEO
Most recently, Cavanaugh was the CEO of Valor Hockey and served at other active lifestyle brands, including Under Armour, New Balance and Nike.

SportPet Designs Acquires Mammoth Pet Products Assets
SportPet Designs is owned by Topspin Consumer Partners, a private equity firm based in Mamaroneck, NY. It invests in established, profitable and fast-growing middle-market consumer businesses.

EXEC: VF Corp. Confirms New Global Cuts; Analysts React to ICR Presentation
The parent company of The North Face, Vans, Timberland, Jansport and Dickies, among other outdoor and street lifestyle brands, continues to take action against the goals set out in its Reinvent turnaround plan.

Birkenstock Holding Makes Change at Chief Financial Officer Position
The company has appointed Ivica Krolo as chief financial officer of the Birkenstock Group, effective February 1. He succeeds Dr. Erik Massmann.

Far Bank Promotes Hamilton to CEO; Klein Remains on Board
The manufacturer and distributor of fly fishing products and services based in Bainbridge Island, WA has promoted Ryan Hamilton to CEO as it continues to strength its senior leadership team.