Rip Curl International has appointed Olivier Cantet as its new Group CEO. The appointment will be effective July 1, 2009. Cantet has been with Rip Curl since 2003 in his current regional role of European CEO and he will continue to manage that business alongside his new group responsibilities.
Chairman of the Rip Curl Board of Directors, Ahmed Fahour said, “We thank Francois for his outstanding leadership of the past two years, for stabilising the Rip Curl Group and for preparing Olivier and the new generation of leaders to take the company to its next level of success.”
Francois will resume his former role as Founder Director on the Rip Curl Board alongside Brian Singer and Doug Warbrick.
In announcing Cantet's additional responsibility as Group CEO, the Rip Curl Founder Directors said, “Olivier has been a great leader in Europe and he has grown our business there in an impressive manner. We are proud to have appointed an internal candidate who lives the Rip Curl values. Over the last six years this keen surfer and expert mountaineer has dedicated his passion to Rip Curl and all the brand stands for. We are extremely confident in him.”
On his appointment, Olivier said “I have so far enjoyed my time with Rip Curl which is a great Australian born company. Our international group is in solid shape after Francois Payot's term and the executive team and I are focussed on growing the business globally. I look forward to continuing my personal search inside the ultimate surfing company and to continuing my work on the Board with Brian, Doug, Francois, and Ahmed in their ambitious plans for Rip Curl's future.”
