RETAIL & DISTRIBUTION
+++ Norwegian-based ski manufacturer Stereo Skis, founded in 2008 and manufactured in Åre, Sweden, announced its official launch and debut to the US skiing market
+++ Intersport has reportedly rolled out an AI platform supplied by Akeneo-owned Unifai to automatically standardize and categorize its product catalogs
+++ As part of its growth plans within EMEA, U.S. sportswear company Under Armour is set to open its first-ever store in Northern Ireland, located at The Boulevard in Banbridge +++
EXECUTIVE CHANGES
+++ Salomon has named Steve Doolan, most recently Vice President and General Manager of Hoka U.S., as President of Salomon Americas, effective Oct. 23, leading the company from its regional headquarters in Ogden, Utah
+++ Head/Tyrolia USA has hired Max Bervy III as Winter Sports Sales and Marketing Associate in the company’s Colorado office
+++ Under Armour has hired former PayPal executive Amanda Coffee as Senior Director of Global Media Relations, a new position at the company
+++ Luca Tavian has been appointed Marketing Manager Italia for the Atomic brand, part of Amer Sports +++
CSR & SUSTAINABILITY
+++ U.S. Ski & Snowboard was selected by Protect Our Winters (POW) as the recipient of the prestigious Jake Burton Award, previously awarded to companies such as Burton, Strava, New Belgium and others +++
LEGAL & INSTITUTIONAL
+++ Sports Direct is battling JP Morgan in the High Court over a £5.4 million (€6.2m) bill the investment bank is claiming for leaving a vacant building in Wigan (Greater Manchester) in a state of disrepair in 2019 after the retailer exercised an exit clause in its 10-year lease signed in 2014
+++ The World Surf League (WSL), the global home of competitive surfing, has announced that it will move from its current headquarters in Santa Monica to a newly renovated office building in the South Bay by December
+++ Elisa Aguilar is the new president of the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB), taking over the role from Jorge Garbajosa, who resigned following his appointment as president of FIBA Europe, the administrative body for basketball in Europe +++
PRODUCT & MARKETING
+++ In addition to MotoGP, GoPro has been named the official action camera partner of AMSOIL Championship Off-Road, Pro Motocross Championship, Formula DRIFT, Nitrocross and FIA Karting World Championship
+++ Etnies has added Floridian skateboarding pro Fabiana Delfino to its team of sponsored athletes
+++ Klutch Athletics by New Balance, the sportswear brand founded by Rich Paul, has announced NFL player Will Anderson Jr. as a new brand ambassador
+++ Adidas and Arsenal have launched the next chapter of their collaboration with Stella McCartney, by revealing the first away kit and travel range for Arsenal Women
+++ Smith and Japanese snow brand Oyuki have teamed up on a design collaboration resulting in the new Smith x Oyuki Method helmet and Smith x Oyuki Squad MAG goggles, available in Winter 2023 at select retailers worldwide and online at smithoptics.com
+++ Nixon partnered with the estate of the late rapper Tupac Shakur for the first time in a limited-edition watch collaboration available at US retailers Zumiez, Tilly’s, Zappos, CCS, Empire, Foursight and The Room +++
CORPORATE AND M&A
+++ According to media reports, shoe manufacturer Birkenstock plans to start the subscription period for its initial public offering in New York on Oct. 2 with an official publicity tour
+++ After Active Brands Group Scandinavia bought ColourWear from Tenson in 2022, the freeride and board sports brand has now received a new profile and re-branding that is to return to the brand’s origins
+++ Norwegian sports retail chain XXL continues to struggle with economic problems and has now been ordered to pay 138.9 million Norwegian kroner (€12.1m) in additional taxes to the Norwegian Tax Authority for the years 2015 to 2018, according to Ehandel.se +++
OBITUARIES
+++ Michael Bonallack, the former chairman of the PGA of Great Britain and Ireland and a leading figure in the sport of golf, has passed away at the age of 88 +++
