Philippe Gouzes, a Frenchman who has been stationed at the company's European office in Innsbruck for many years, has been promoted to senior vice president of international operations at Burton Snowboards, providing leadership for sales, marketing and product development for all the company's brands outside the U.S. He will have no fixed location.
Gouzes is moving up from his position as vice president of Burton in Europe. In his new position, he will report to Donna Carpenter, co-owner of the company and wife of its boss, Jake Burton. International operations were previous handled by a former general manger of the company, Laurent Poitevin. Donna and Jane have been taking care of this after his departure.
Gouzes has been with the company since 2002, when he was hired as European sales director. He moved up to his most recent position in 2006. Among his accomplishments are the introduction of Burton to the Channel Islands and the relocation of the European offices for the group's Gravis and Analog brands from Innsbruck to Hossegor, the European surf capital in southwestern France. He's been working in the snow sports industry in Europe for more than 16 years, and is a snowboarder himself.
Separately, Marian Kaeding has been appointed European director of Burton, based in Innsbruck. She will report to the European general manager, Hermann Kapferer, taking care of the Burton, Red and Anon brands.
