EXECUTIVE CHANGES
+++ Betterguards has appointed Tony Verutti as the company’s new chief executive
+++ Daniela Riccardi has resigned from Kering’s board of directors, although she is reportedly expected to still sit on Kering’s Sustainable Development committee +++
RETAIL & DISTRIBUTION
+++ Spanish retailer Futbol Emotion has, according to CMDsport, become the technical distributor for the Kings League
+++ Italian golf fashion brand Duca del Cosma has unveiled its first Ladies Performance Centre in the U.K.
+++ Pádel Nuestro, a Spanish retailer specializing in padel, will open its first U.S. store in Miami’s Wynwood district, less than two miles from Wynwood Padel Club and Real Padel Miami
+++ The fashion, sporting, and homeware outlet store TK Maxx is to open an e-commerce shop for Germany
+++ Zalando is to open two new outlet stores in Frankfurt and Bielefeld, taking its store total to 13 spread across Germany
+++ Swedish sportswear brand Craft has entered the Thai market with the opening of its first flagship store in Bangkok, on the first floor of the Siam Discovery mall +++
PRODUCT & MARKETING
+++ Nox has, according to The Padel Paper and Diffusion Sport, signed a sponsorship deal with Louie Harris, a Welshman who turned pro in January and is third in the LTA pádel rankings
+++ Training platform Humango will continue as an official partner of Super League Triathlon into 2023
+++ Puma has extended its partnership with Indian football player Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, the goalkeeper of Bengaluru Football Club, for another four years
+++ Mumbai-based sports and lifestyle brand playR has signed a new global merchandise deal with four teams of the Indian Premier League (IPL), including the Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Punjab Kings, and Rajasthan Royals
+++ Former football star Luís Figo is launching his own clothing and sportswear brand, dubbed LF Luxury Fashion, which is set to begin selling products online in July, and through select retail partners from Feb. 2024
+++ Reebok is launching in India a new campaign, called “I am the New,” in partnership with Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd., featuring actors Taapsee Pannu and cricketer Suryakumar Yadav
+++ The Italian functional cycling apparel brand Q36.5, founded by Luigi Bergamo and Sabrina Emmasi in 2013, is partnering with Swiss triathlete, two-time Olympian and Ironman World Champion Daniela Ryf
+++ U.S. sneaker brand Keds, part of the Designer Brands portfolio of Owned Brands, announced a footwear collection with sporty-chic brand Recreational Habits comprising a sneaker and clothing items available online on May 18 +++
LEGAL & INSTITUTIONAL
+++ The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that it will contribute its share of the surplus of US$10.4 million from the organizational budget of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 to support the legacy of these Games, giving it to the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) to support the development of sport in China
+++ Columbia has filed suit against Barefoot Creations (doing business as Softstar Shoes) for infringing on its “Omni” prefix trademark with the Omniflex soles in Softstar athletic and outdoor shoes
+++ Patagonia has filed suit in Los Angeles, CA district court against Sam’s Club and its supplier, Greensource Brand Apparel, Inc., for infringing on Patagonia’s multi-colored P6 logo +++
CSR AND SUSTAINABILITY
+++ Indoor cycling brand Wattbike is supporting the 1000-mile Cycle Challenge, organized by Sport Parkinson’s +++
