Pacific Cycles new CEO, Jeff Frehner, says he has plans that will bring more speed and focus to the company and its partners. A bicycle industry veteran, Frehner began his career in the bicycle industry as an attorney and Human Resources Director with QBP, a leading bicycle products supplier, in 1996. Frehner joined Pacific Cycle in 2002.
His appointment to the CEO post follows the December 2006 retirement of Pacific Cycles founder and former CEO, Chris Hornung, as part of a planned succession process. Frehner was most recently Pacific Cycles President and Chief Operating Officer, a post he held for the past two years.
Frehner serves as a board member of Bikes Belong and Project Rwanda and supports cycling-related initiatives in the Madison area that encourage a healthy environment and community. Frehner is also an avid cycling enthusiast.
“Pacific Cycle is the worlds leading bicycle supplier, and has grown steadily over the years by means of efficient sourcing, acquisition and diversification,” said Frehner. “We go above and beyond to ensure our partners are happy and profitable, and that will continue to be of utmost importance moving forward with both the bicycle part of our business as well as with other product lines. We have seen great success with our core bicycle business and we are experiencing tremendous growth in new business initiatives such as our Schwinn Motor Scooters line. I am now challenging our talented team at Pacific Cycle to take the entire business to the next level by identifying efficiencies, bringing new products to market quicker, and raising the bar with innovation and quality.”
“The United States and countries around the world where Pacific conducts business are experiencing a changing mindset towards healthy lifestyles and environmental sustainability,” said Frehner. “The bicycle fits naturally with this trend, and while Pacifics core business is bicycles, we will continue to expand our offerings to meet the opportunities these trends present.”
Frehner points to the following areas in which Pacific Cycle will place increasing amounts of focus:
- Increase Pacifics market share in the core bicycle business. “Specifically, we plan to dedicate more resources to the higher-end IBD channel. Independent bicycle dealers are entrepreneurial by nature. We need to give these independent business people what they want, when they want it.”
- Diversify by bringing new outdoor recreation products to the market quicker. “Expanded product lines will aim to address such issues as childhood obesity, the health of the aging population, global warming and rising energy costs.”
- Strengthen Pacifics quiver of brands. “We will enhance our brandscurrent levels of awareness and purchase intent. The product and value proposition we offer our partners is very strong.”
- Be a better corporate citizen. “We are strengthening Pacifics “good neighbor” approach to the outdoor industry, our customers and our local community. Supporting initiatives such as Project Rwanda, Bikes Belong, and Madison's charge to become a Platinum-rated Bicycle Friendly Community (by the League of American Bicyclists) demonstrates our commitment to social responsibility.”
- Enhance company employees health and productivity. “Pacific offers alternative transportation incentives, an extensive wellness program, shower facilities to encourage exercise, and more. A healthy, happy employee is a productive employee.”
“Pacific Cycle is a best-in-class consumer brand company that is on a mission,” said Frehner. “Its exciting to be a global market leader in a consumer recreation category that continues to grow, diversify and strengthen, and were seeing success in all divisions of our business. Weve got a very bright future ahead of us.”
