The US-based Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the global trade association for manufacturers, retailers and marketers in the sports-products and fitness industry, has appointed Todd Smith as its new President and CEO. Smith, most recently SVP of the US Chamber of Commerce, will be replacing the retiring Tom Cove on Oct. 1. Previously, Smith served as director of global partnerships for AEG, the sports and entertainment company, focused on sponsorship sales, marketing and fan development.
Cove has led the trade group since 2005 and announced his retirement in June. His overall tenure extends to 32 years, for 13 of which he served as VP of Government Relations. Among his key accomplishments are his work on a groundbreaking program to eliminate child labor in the global production of soccer balls and national legislation that pumped nearly $1 billion into local physical-education programs.
