SGB Update Sports & Fitness
Slinger Signs Exclusive Tennis Ball Partnership Agreement With Dunlop
Slinger announced a new four-year tennis ball partnership with Dunlop. Dunlop becomes the official ball provider for Slinger across the global tennis market.
Decathlon Announces New CEO
Decathlon appointed Barbara Martin Coppola as chief executive officer. She succeeds Michel Aballea, in office since 2015. This appointment is effective mid-March 2022.
Reebok To Layoff 150 Employees As ABG Acquisition Nears Completion
According to a report in The Boston Globe, Reebok will lay off about 150 employees, mainly at its Boston headquarters. The layoffs will take effect around February 28, when its acquisition by Authentic Brands Group (ABG) is scheduled to close.
Ellsworth Cycling Announces Tony Ellsworth’s Return
Ellsworth Cycling, LLC (dba “Ellsworth Bikes”), a manufacturer of mountain bikes for more than 30 years, announced it signed an agreement with its founder, Tony Ellsworth, to return to the company as an equal partner and as its chief design officer.
Enduro Bearings Hires Ambassador & Events Program Manager
Enduro Bearings, a manufacturer of cycling bearings and bearing-related components, announced it had hired Kurt Stockton as its ambassadors and events program manager.
NPD Report: Athletic Footwear Revenues Expand 20 Percent In 2021
Annual revenue for the U.S. athletic footwear market grew by about 20 percent versus 2020, although growth slowed to mid-single-digits in the fourth quarter due to poor execution, supply chain delays, the end of stimulus payments, and a lack of newness in the market, according to The NPD Group.
EBay Launches Authentication For Trading Cards
EBay announced the launch of its Authenticity Guarantee service for trading cards.
Academy Sports To Restart New Store Growth In 2022, Including First Stores In Virginia And West Virginia
Academy Sports + Outdoors, Inc. announced that it would open at least eight new stores in 2022 to fill in specific existing markets in Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, and Texas and expand its Virginia and West Virginia footprint.
Former Therabody VP Joins Styku As Chief Revenue Officer
Styku announced the appointment of Nicholas Trosko as its new chief revenue officer.
Under Armour Replaces Reebok As Footwear Partner For UFC
Under Armour Inc.’s Project Rock brand featuring former pro wrestler and actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has replaced Reebok as the official footwear partner of UFC, the mixed martial arts organization.
Nike Appoints SNKRS VP To Lead New Virtual Studios Division
Nike announced it had appointed Ron Faris as the VP of its SNKRS app and lead its Virtual Studios, a new division supporting Nike’s latest push into the metaverse.
KKR Acquires Accell For $1.77BN
A consortium led by buyout firm and Teslin Alpine Acquisition has agreed to a takeover of Accell Group that values the maker of bike brands, including Raleigh, Haibike, Ghost, Koga, Sparta, and Batavus at Є1.56 billion ($1.77 billion).
Port Of Los Angeles Breaks Cargo Record In 2021, Sets Priorities For 2022
Breaking its previous calendar year record by 13 percent, the Port of Los Angeles processed about 10.7 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) during 2021. The milestone, a Western Hemisphere record, was announced by Port Executive Director Gene Seroka in his address at the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association’s Seventh Annual “State of the Port” event held virtually this year.
Inov-8 Makes France A Direct Market; Hires Sales Manager For The Region
UK-based Inov-8 announced its growth plans for France after adding the country to its portfolio of direct European markets. The brand also announced it had appointed Emmanuel (Manu) Fedon as sales manager for France.
Activist Investor Urges Peloton To Fire CEO, Explore Sale
In a letter to Peloton’s Board of Directors, activist investor Blackwells Capital called for its directors to fire the company’s CEO, Co-founder John Foley, and to weigh a sale as the connected fitness firm’s shares dropped amid falling sales.
