Rapha has appointed Fran Millar as its new chief executive officer, effective September 23. The hire follows the brand’s sale in 2017 to RZC Investments, controlled by Steuart and Tom Walton, grandsons of Walmart Founder Sam Walton.
“Fran Millar‘s career is a testament to her dedication to cycling and her ability to drive transformative change,” said Steuart Walton, co-founder of RZC, the investment firm that acquired Rapha in 2017. “Her extensive background in the cycling world includes pivotal roles with Team Sky and Team Ineos where she played a critical role in securing seven Tour de France victories.”
RZC also owns Truewerk, Allied Cycle Works, Eddyline Kayaks, and LIVSN Designs. In March 2020, Rapha relocated its North American operations from Portland, OR, to Bentonville, AR, the headquarters of Walmart.
Millar will replace Francois Concervey, who has been with the company since 2015 as chief brand and marketing officer. CyclingNews reported that Concervey is stepping down to leave the business.
According to SGB Media‘s reporting, Concervey and Daniel Blumire were tapped as joint managing directors in November 2022 after William Kim’s departure. Kim left for personal reasons after less than a year in the leadership role. Convercey stepped into the CEO role in October 2023.
“Rapha is one of the most iconic brands in sport and has huge potential for its next phase of growth,” said Millar. “It has been a constant presence in my life and career, a brand I have always loved, referenced, and returned to. This role combines everything I am passionate about, and I am honored to lead Rapha into the exciting next chapter of its journey.”
Rapha Founder Simon Mottram said Millar’s appointment marks a significant milestone for the company.
“Fran has been a friend of Rapha since 2006 when she helped us establish and run the Nocturne series of races,” noted Mottram. “She then introduced us to Dave Brailsford and Team Sky, culminating in our successful four-year partnership. Fran’s deep understanding of the cycling industry, combined with her proven track record in leading high-performance teams and brands, positions her uniquely to guide Rapha into its next chapter.”
Rapha noted that Millar’s career highlights include being the founder and creative director of Face Partnership from 2000 to 2008. She established the Face Partnership, a UK cycling management agency, represented top British cyclists, and created the Revolution track cycling series there. In 2006, Face developed the Smithfield Nocturne with Rapha and Condor Cycles and managed the Nocturne Series for six years.
From 2008 to 2018, she was “instrumental in the creation and operational success of Team Sky,” holding various roles from project manager to CEO, and was “key in securing Sky’s sponsorship.” She also led the team’s cultural program, which drove its success.
From 2018 to 2020, she was the CEO of Team Ineos, overseeing the transition from Team Sky to Team Ineos. In 2019, she was the Deputy CEO of the Ineos 1:59 Challenge and “was a driving force behind Eliud Kipchoge’s sub-two-hour marathon, managing all aspects of the project.
From 2020 to now, Millar implemented “Mission Phoenix” for Belstaff, a luxury lifestyle brand, leading to financial recovery and operational improvements. Millar was appointed CEO of Belstaff in 2020 and was tasked with developing a turnaround strategy. Over the past three years, she has “improved financial performance, repositioned the brand, led cultural change, and implemented operational efficiencies.”
Images courtesy Rapha, Fran Millar/LinkedIn
