EXECUTIVE CHANGES
+++ J.Lindeberg has hired sales veteran Kalle Kickuth, who previously worked at Adidas and Reebok and most recently at Gant, as Chief Sales Officer, a newly created position at the company
+++ Spain’s LaLiga has reelected to its chairmanship for the next four seasons Javier Tebas, who resigned in March as chairman of the Association of European Professional Football Leagues (European Leagues) and has now been replaced there by Pedro Proença, current chairman of Portugal’s LaLiga – all of this according to Palco23
+++ Rip Curl has hired Somer Harris, who joins from Hurley where she helped launch the women’s swim business, as the new Vice President of Sales for the North American market
+++ Ruth Daniels has been appointed as CEO of British Triathlon, effective February 2024
+++ Underwear maker Saxx appointed Tom Berry, most recently President and CEO of the America’s region for the Danish footwear company Ecco and previously holding leadership roles at Levi Strauss & Co, Tecnica, Salomon and The North Face, as CEO, succeeding Wendy Bennison +++
RETAIL & DISTRIBUTION
+++ The French retailer of skiing equipment, clothes, and winter-sport accessories Ekosport, based in Frontenex, Rhone-Alpes, opened a new store in the Nouvelles Galeries in Annecy and announced the inauguration of two new doors in the heart of Paris – one in June 2024 before the Olympic Games, the other in 2025 +++
LEGAL & INSTITUTIONAL
+++ Nike has accused Colorado-based ski apparel company Skiman of using a trademark that resembles the Jordan Jumpman emblem (only with skis and ski poles on the feet and hands)
+++ The new headquarters of World Triathlon was officially opened on Dec. 4, 2023, in the Olympic capital of Lausanne, Switzerland +++
CORPORATE AND M&A
+++ In partnership with leading manufacturer Akka Brands, Reebok has entered its first deal to produce cricket equipment in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh
+++ Bowflex, the former Nautilus, received a non-compliance notice from the NYSE because its market cap was below $50 million and will respond by Dec. 11 with a plan to restore compliance
+++ The Alfonso X El Sabio University in Spain has inaugurated a new sports studies laboratory at its campus in Villanueva de la Cañada in partnership with Technogym
+++ Xcel Brands, a media and consumer products company with expertise in livestream shopping and social commerce, formed a joint venture with supermodel, actress and entrepreneur Christie Brinkley to develop Twrhll, a lifestyle and apparel brand for distribution in retail and livestream channels +++
PRODUCT & MARKETING
+++ Wilson will be sponsoring Premier Padel’s P1 tournament in Milan on Dec. 4-10, according to TradeSport
+++ Asics has renewed its partnership with France’s oldest trail race, SaintéLyon, for a further three editions
+++ New Balance has signed an extensive sponsorship deal with Tennis Australia that makes the company the Official Performance Apparel and Footwear provider of the Australian Open and United Cup
+++ Ellesse has unveiled an exclusive Autumn/Winter 2023 collaboration with the Tomorrowland Winter Music Festival, offering a collection “that transcends boundaries between skiwear and festival flair,“ including jackets, tees, hoodies, fleeces, futuristic eyewear and beanies
+++ US Ski & Snowboard, the national governing body for Olympic skiers and snowboarders, has expanded its merchandising program to include an exclusive partnership with specialty outdoor equipment and apparel retailer Backcountry
+++ Reebok VP of Basketball Allen Iverson joined Reebok, custom footwear shop The Shoe Surgeon and sports betting company DraftKings to mark the launch of the Day 1 lifestyle sneaker, an exclusive, limited-edition collaboration featuring design elements inspired by Iverson’s first signature Reebok shoe, The Question
+++ Spyder and retailer Pull&Bear have come together to launch a capsule that merges Spyder’s technical winter gear and Pull&Bear’s modern streetwear designs, featuring oversized outerwear and basics such as sweatshirts, hoodies and tees
+++ Klutch Athletics, the brand co-owned by New Balance and sports agent Rich Paul, has signed a NIL deal with US high school basketball player Aaliyah Crump
+++ Costa Sunglasses announced a new partnership with the Eddie Aikau Foundation to sponsor the 39th Annual Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational at Waimea Bay on the North Shore of Oahu in Hawaii, one of the most prestigious big wave surfing events in the world
+++ Smith announced the expansion of its Imprint 3D Technology with the addition of the Squad and Squad XL goggle offerings
+++ Adidas revealed the new Predator 30, a special edition pack celebrating three decades of innovation for the legendary football boot franchise originally launched in 1994
+++ GoPro has partnered with Vans to become the official camera of the iconic Vans Pipe Masters surf contest, where the world’s best tube riders compete for the title +++
