Schutt Sports has named Robert Erb as CEO. Julie Nimmons stepped back from her active role as CEO to become chairman of the board of directors in March with President Eric Ashleman taking over the day-to-day duties of running the company at that point. Eric, who has been with the company since March 2006, will remain as president.
“Since it was founded in 1918, Schutt Sports has been successful because it has always had great people who have come together to build an outstanding team,” said Chairman of the Board Julie Nimmons. “As we wholeheartedly welcome Robert Erb as Chief Executive Officer, we see yet another example of Schutt bringing in talented people.”
Said Mr. Erb: “Schutt Sports is a great company at a time when there are few great companies in a rapidly consolidating industry. I am thrilled to be a part of it. Schutt has long been recognized and respected as a leader in product innovation and quality, with a dedication to providing superior service and the integrity to back it up. Seventy-Five per cent of National Football League players take the field with a Schutt product and 12 of the last 16 Heisman Trophy winners wore a Schutt helmet. And the key innovations that are being implemented at the highest levels of competition are also adapted for the youth market.”
“Robert brings to Schutt Sports a proven track record of vision and unparalleled success in the sporting goods industry,” President Eric Ashleman said. “His skill sets and background, which includes experience in every aspect of our business, will help guide Schutt into a new era and to new levels of success. Robert strongly believes in the growth prospects of Schutt Sports which is reflected in his own personal financial commitment to the company.”
Mr. Erb joined adidas America in 1994 as General Counsel and Secretary and a member of the Senior Management Team. As Head of Sports Marketing from 1995 through 1998, he was a member of the Executive Management Team that was responsible for growing the subsidiary from approximately $250-million in sales to $1.5-billion in four years.
As Executive Vice President of Global Marketing and Chief Legal Officer for Taylor Made from 1999-2001, Mr. Erb was a member of the Executive Management Team responsible for growing the golf subsidiary from approximately $325-million to approximately $700-million. He was also responsible for the brand repositioning of Taylor Made and adidas golf, including all product design and development, global marketing, internet strategy, promotions, promotions, advertising, public relations, events and sports marketing.
Mr. Erb was President of adidas Golf and Executive Vice President, Chief of Staff of Taylor Made from 2002 through 2004 and was responsible for all aspects of adidas Golf business including marketing, sales, operations and finance. He was the leader of a team responsible for growing the adidas golf business from approximately $40-million to $115-million.
Mr. Erb held an ownership interest with Sports Brands International from 2004 to 2007, managing three subsidiaries. He was Chief Marketing Officer and Managing Director, North America, for Fila where he was responsible for brand positioning, acquisitions, marketing, product creation, communications and promotions; Chief Executive Officer of Cloudveil Mountain Works, Inc., a Jackson Hole, Wyoming-based apparel brand; and Chief Executive Officer of Motion Wear, Inc., an Indianapolis-based dance apparel brand.
Mr. Erb earned a Bachelor of Arts degree (cum laude) from the University of Buffalo in 1982 and received his Juris Doctorate from New York Law School in 1992.
