C-Suite Interviews
-
C-Suite InterviewColumbia’s bold brand relaunch: Connecting with new audiences while honoring Its roots
Columbia has completed a comprehensive brand relaunch featuring a humorous campaign approach that returns to the company’s 1980s roots while targeting younger consumers in an increasingly competitive outdoor market. In this interview, Romain Cancilleri-Michy, Senior Brand Marketing Manager Europe at Columbia, explains how the company and modern consumers understand outdoor today and how it is positioning itself for long-term growth in a highly competitive market.
-
C-Suite InterviewMelissa Kaar: 'Regardless of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability – there is a place for everyone in sport'
Managing director Melissa Kaar discusses the adidas Foundation’s evolution from startup phase to independent entity, detailing challenges from bank accounts to building trust with grassroots partners using sport for social change.
-
C-Suite InterviewIntersport CEO Foley highlights running boom, stresses local approach
Tom Foley says that running is Intersport’s standout category, while outdoor has not yet reached former levels.
-
C-Suite Interview"We’re thinking too small about sport"
Why sport needs a bigger stage: FESI’s Michael Nendwich on health policy, community power and the industry’s untapped potential.
-
C-Suite InterviewOrtholite CEO Glenn Barrett: Some customers are pulling orders forward
Ortholite’s CEO shares insights on how his brand partners are reacting to the current geopolitical situation.
-
C-Suite InterviewAsics EMEA CEO Unbehaun on the success story of running and how Asics benefits from it
Running is simple, accessible, and affordable, says Asics EMEA CEO Carsten Unbehaun. This is an important part of the truth. But why does Asics in particular achieve record sales year after year despite growing competition? Carsten Unbehaun, CEO Asics EMEA explains.
-
C-Suite InterviewWorldly explained: The Higg Index, Cascale and measuring environmental impact on a product base
Worldly’s new Product Impact Calculator offers brands a way to accurately measure product-level Scope 3 emissions with primary supplier data, a step beyond spend-based tools and a key asset for sustainability reporting.
-
C-Suite InterviewASMAS CEO Peter Bruggmann: "The private, independent sports shops are a key feature of the Swiss market"
Like many others, the Swiss market for sports has had trouble sustaining growth since the pandemic. SGI Europe has gotten hold of Peter Bruggmann, CEO of ASMAS, the Swiss sports retail association, to obtain details on how the Swiss market developed in full-year 2024. SGIE: How does the ...
-
C-Suite InterviewCEO Richard Collier: Db has grown up
In fifteen years, Db has grown from a start up that wanted to make cool but practical ski products into a premium luggage company. We talked to CEO Richard Collier.
-
C-Suite InterviewIrina Andorfer, Sport 2000 Austria: "As a retailer, I have to earn my USP"
Irina Andorfer talks about the transformation of Sport 2000 Austria and explains why listening and understanding are not enough for her first 100 days as CEO of Sport 2000 Austria.
-
C-Suite InterviewWFSGI CEO Emma Zwiebler: “We are focused on unlocking the potential in the industry”
Emma Zwiebler reflects on her first year as CEO of WFSGI.
-
C-Suite InterviewAfter the Olympic fameness of Cybershape – racquet expert Stiga goes west
One sports product stood out at the Paris Olympics despite its modest size. The octagonal racquet Cybershape put the 80-year-old Swedish family business STIGA Sports back on the world map. Now, the venerable company is looking to capitalize on its success and break into the lucrative US racquet market. In three years, the goal is to triple sales of STIGA Sports products in the US. In addition, an upcoming IPO is looming for the venerable family business.
-
C-Suite InterviewMargit Gosau, Sport 2000: There’s a modest resurgence of the traditional sports retailer
What is the current state of the sports retail sector, and what are retailers’ expectations for the year 2025? Margit Gosau, provides her point of view.
-
C-Suite InterviewCraft’s CEO: ‘In five years we will double our turnover to €350 million’
Swedish Craft has really good momentum. The company, which 25 years ago was best known for its blue and black underwear, now has a turnover of SEK 2 billion (€175m) and is a recognized brand in running, cross-country skiing and cycling. With CEO Stefan Persson at the helm, the goals are set high: in five years, turnover is expected to double.
-
C-Suite InterviewArena CEO Peter Graschi: “I am sure that swimming is becoming more and more popular”
We spoke to Peter Graschi about the importance of major sporting events, what this means for the marketing, his predictions for the future of swimming and his plans for sustainability.
-
C-Suite InterviewNew Wave Group CEO on the company’s US plans and the desire to acquire more sports brands
New Wave Group, proprietor of Craft and Tenson, has started teamwear sales in the US. An interview with CEO Torsten Jansson.
-
C-Suite InterviewHow Kevin Ross wants to increase Under Armour’s influence in Europe
Under Armour’s Senior Vice President and EMEA Managing Director talks about regional adaptions and the role of sportswear.
-
C-Suite InterviewHestra goes against the grain, never better in a competitive industry
The Swedish glove manufacturer is doing better than ever. An interview with CEO Anton Magnusson.
-
C-Suite InterviewHead: Fashion is playing an increasingly important role in tennis and skiing
An interview with Roman Stepek, the chief of Head’s apparel business.
-
C-Suite InterviewSyre to take circular polyester to gigascale
Swedish textile recycling company Syre has big plans for the textile industry. The goal is to produce recycled polyester per year; polyester that can also be recycled an infinite number of times. The solution is the recipe of two American chemistry professors, which is now being incorporated into the first factory to be completed in the US this year.
