From the official news released today it would appear that Mike “Chief” Nusenow has a new boss of sorts, and someone who shares his SVP, winter sports title at Quiksilver.
Clark Gundlach, the former (wait, it’s a really, really long title) “Senior Vice President leading Sales, National Accounts, Sales Operations, Licensed Store Platforms, and Multi-Channel Distribution in North America and the Southern Hemisphere for Burton, RED and Anon brands” has been named Senior Vice President and General Manager of Winter Sports at Quiksilver, Americas.
“Clark, Chief, and the rest of the snow team in the Americas, along with athletes like Travis Rice and Torah Bright, are going to take our brands and our business to new places,” stated Rob Colby, President of Quiksilver Americas. “I couldn’t be happier with this crew.”
Gundlach will report directly to Colby and Nusenow will report to Gundlach. If Quik wants to make inroads into the heart of the winter sports market there’s no better way than by hiring one more person away from the leader in the category. Follow the jump for the official word from Quik.Quiksilver Inc. Welcomes Clark Gundlach
Clark Gundlach appointed as SVP and General Manager of Winter Sports,
Quiksilver Americas.
Huntington Beach, California, January 17, 2012 — Quiksilver, Inc. (NYSE:ZQK) today announced the appointment of Clark Gundlach as the Senior Vice President and General Manager of Winter Sports at Quiksilver, Americas, effective immediately.
Gundlach, a renowned industry expert, comes from Burton where he spent the last seventeen years in roles of increasing responsibility. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President leading Sales, National Accounts, Sales Operations, Licensed Store Platforms, and Multi-Channel Distribution in North America and the Southern Hemisphere for Burton, RED and Anon brands.
The hiring aligns with the company’s strategy of aggressively growing the mountain and snow category that began last year with the appointment of Mike “Chief” Nusenow, a well respected snow industry veteran, as Senior Vice President, Winter Sports.
The announcement follows a period of significant improvement in the company’s Americas business. Over the past two years, profits generated by Quiksilver’s Americas region have nearly tripled and the company expects further significant improvement through category expansion and other initiatives.
“Clark, Chief, and the rest of the snow team in the Americas, along with athletes like Travis Rice and Torah Bright, are going to take our brands and our business to new places,” stated Rob Colby, President of Quiksilver Americas. “I couldn’t be happier with this crew.”
In his new role, Gundlach will oversee the product, sales and marketing of Quiksilver, Roxy and DC brands for the technical snow and outdoor/mountain businesses. Gundlach will report directly to Colby; and Nusenow will report into Gundlach.
Quiksilver’s long history in winter sports began at its inception with the Quiksilver logo of a cresting wave and snow-capped mountain representing the company’s heritage in board sports; and includes the award-winning Mervin company, makers of the Gnu and Lib Tech brand, in the company’s portfolio.
About Quiksilver:
Quiksilver, Inc. (NYSE:ZQK) is the world’s leading outdoor sports lifestyle company, which designs, produces and distributes a diversified mix of branded apparel, footwear, accessories, snowboards and related products. The company’s apparel and footwear brands represent a casual lifestyle for young-minded people that connect with its board riding culture and heritage.
The reputation of Quiksilver’s brands is based on outdoor action sports. The company’s Quiksilver, Roxy, DC, Lib Tech and Hawk brands are synonymous with the heritage and culture of surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding.
The company’s products are sold in over 90 countries in a wide range of distribution, including surf shops, skate shops, snow shops, its proprietary Boardriders Club shops and other company-owned retail stores, other specialty stores and select department stores. Quiksilver’s corporate and Americas’ headquarters are in Huntington Beach, California, while its European headquarters are in St. Jean de Luz, France, and its Asia/Pacific headquarters are in Torquay, Australia.
Anyone want to take a stab at forecasting 2012 – 2013 pre bookings for snow?
Down 15% or 20%?
Tahoe’s visitor days are down 40% for the season.
Want to have some fun, go look at inventory levels on Backcountry.com or Dogfunk. Boards that shipped at 50 QTY are still holding steady.
overall snow buys will be down 20-30%, but the performing brands i think can push to be flat to a bit up. its the season the true brand fall out begins. those that have had “representation” based on relationships vs sell through will be cut loose altogether.
most retailers i have talked to are slimming their brand offerings in every category and partnering up with what makes sense- 5 board brands, 2 binding brands, 3 boot brands, 4-5 outerwear brands…
sounds about right. Brands need to step up the support or don’t expect any love, its not personal like it used to be. Look for strong companies like the north face to become more relevant in snowboarding. Little boutique brands are going to get hammered, maybe some sales managers will need to write new programs
Phew. Quiksilver needed another senior executive focused on its winter program. Two big pros, two big execs. No team or indians. that’s how business gets done?
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