The Athlete’s Foot Promotes Matt Lafone to CEO
Matt Lafone, president and GM of Americas, takes the helm as global CEO, steering TAF toward a unified vision with new operational and innovation strategies.
Ciele Athletics Appoints First CEO
Jano Arabaghian brings extensive global leadership experience to the role, having worked for Red Bull, The North Face, Oakley, and Vans. Most recently, he was the head of action-sports sales for Vans North America and previously as general manager of Vans Canada,
SuperX Appoints Ryan DeLuca to Advisory Board
Through official partnerships with Marvel, Star Wars, Mortal Kombat, DC Comics, Hasbro, Ubisoft, Disney, and more, SuperX is going from a niche brand focused on creating superhero activewear to being recognized as a collaborative fitness brand for pop culture.
HFA: One in Four Americans Belonged to a Gym in 2024
A record 77 million Americans, or 25 percent of the population ages six and older, were members of a gym, studio or other fitness facility in 2024, according to data collected and analyzed by the Health & Fitness Association.
Garmin’s Marathon Series, Wholly Owned and Produced, to Debut this Fall
While many brands sponsor races, this one is wholly owned and produced by Garmin, from start to finish, with debut locations set for the fall in Toledo, OH and Tucson, AZ.
Puma SE Promotes Tara McRae to President of North America Unit
McRae, who previously led Puma’s marketing and brand strategy in North America, will assume the role immediately, replacing Bob Philion, who leaves the company after 20 years, including eights years as North America president.
EXEC: Trump Threatens to Push China Tariffs to 104 Percent Total
At issue was what Trump said was an effort to strike a trade deal with China that would be fair to both sides. China’s latest move on Friday to assess a 34 percent retaliatory tariff apparently lit the fuse as Trump threatened to add another 50 percent to the total tariff.
CR Fitness Holdings to Open 75th Crunch Fitness Franchise in Colleyville, TX
The gym will officially open for workouts on April 10 at 5:00 a.m. A grand opening celebration will occur on April 12. The membership-based gym will offer the full spectrum of Crunch Fitness amenities to the Colleyville community.
EXEC: Spanish Fitness Club GOfit Expanding to Italy with Technogym Partner
After success in Spain, where GOfit has been using the Technogym Ecosystem, the group will start collaborating exclusively with the Italy-based Technogym in that country, with its first gym opening in Turin at the end of summer 2025.
EXEC: Puma SE Names New CEO and Chair of Management Board; Freundt to Exit
Puma SE’s Supervisory Board has appointed Arthur Hoeld as chairman of the Management Board and CEO of Puma SE, effective July 1, 2025. Due to differing views on strategy execution, Arne Freundt, CEO of Puma SE, and the Supervisory Board have mutually agreed that he will step down as CEO on April 11, 2025.
EXEC: Decathlon’s 2024 Profit Falls as Sales Rise; New CEO Appointed
Javier López has been appointed as chief executive officer, replacing Barbara Martin Coppola who has served in the CEO role since March 2022.
EXEC: Trump Tariffs Hit Active Lifestyle Stocks Hard; Vietnam Hit a Big Surprise
At issue for many in the active lifestyle market, including sporting goods, footwear, apparel, and outdoor, is the impact on goods sourced in Vietnam after many companies invested considerable time and capital in moving production there from China.
BDA Promotes Former Nordstrom Exec to Divisional VP of Program Management
Bensussen Deutsch & Associates, LLC (BDA) is the largest, independently owned branded merchandise agency with operations in over 50 locations worldwide. With a proven record of building large e-commerce solutions, Lisa Battistoni’s expertise will drive innovation and optimize BDA’s digital offerings.
Tom Brady to Open CardVault Flagship Store at American Dream
Spanning over 1,200 square feet, the store will carry rare and premium trading cards, authentication services and a VIP trading experience. The store will host a grand opening on April 11 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., where Tom Brady and CardVault Co-Funder Chris Costa, will host an on-stage conversation sharing insights on collecting.
The Bay Club Expands PNW Presence with Seattle Area Acquisition
With its Pacific Northwest Region now featuring four clubs, the company is on track to exceed 50 clubs and over 200,000 members by the end of 2025.
