Matthias Wanner, leader of the footwear unit of Sport 2000 International, is leaving the company. He will be replaced by Steffen Kunz, who has been in charge of hardgoods at Sport 2000. SGI Europe hears that Wanner will join the team of Lowa, but this rumor has not been confirmed as of this writing. The rumor also says that Lowa might eventually take over the German distribution of Blizzard and that Markus Weinmann, Lowa’s sales director, might be in charge of the ski brand and might be replaced by Wanner at Lowa. Werner Riethmann, Lowa’s managing partner, did not confirm the takeover of Blizzard’s local distribution, but did not rule out the possibility that this might occur at an undefined point in time. In Austria, meanwhile, Tecnica Group has decided that the same sales force will handle Blizzard skis and Tecnica ski boots. A similar move is being implemented in Japan.