Stefano Di Martino, a former running champion who joined Fila one year ago as president and chief executive for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, sees his responsibilities extended to include marketing and product management on a global basis from Nov. 1. The nomination follows an excellent score in Europe, where the company is going to meet the financial targets of a 3-year plan one year in advance of schedule.
Fila EMEA is now expected to reach this year an operating margin before amortization (EBITDA) of $6 million on sales of $153 million, up from an original sales target of $146 million. It should be able to raise it to $10 million in 2007.
One of Di Martino’s most important new initiatives is the opening of a series of company-owned and franchised stores all over the EMEA region. They are set to rise to 200 by the end of 2008, with 70 openings in the pipeline during 2007.
