Alexander Stepanek assumes the newly created position of co-managing director for the international business of Völkl Tennis, joining the present managing director, Udo Mûnster, who will concentrate on the German and Austrian markets. Stepanek will coordinate sales of the company’s hardgoods and softgoods in all other territories, including North America.
The installation of a duo at the top of the Swiss-based company also reflects the growing importance of apparel for the Völkl brand in the tennis sector. In fact Stepanek, who has been project manager of Völkl’s BB („Boris Becker”) collection, will also be responsible for the management of the company’s textile operations, while Münster will concentrate on racquets and other hardgoods.
Völkl Tennis remains a 50-50 joint venture of the former tennis champion Boris Becker and of Hans-Dieter Cleven, the Swiss investor and former chief financial officer of the Metro group. Cleven used to be a major shareholder of Völkl International, the company whose winter sports business was sold two years ago to K2. Cleven is said to have become as a result the single biggest individual shareholder of K2. On top of this, Cleven is a major shareholder of G-Lord, a German buying group for shoe retailers which was founded in late 2004, after Garant Schuh + Mode went into receivership.
