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Boardriders announces new senior management team after Billabong acquisition
The new-look Boardriders group, which added to the Quiksilver, Roxy and DC Shoes brands by acquiring its board-sport competitor Billabong, is ready to get into the swing of things. The Australian group’s acquisition, bringing to Boardriders the Billabong, RVCA and Element brands, is effective from 24th April, and in parallel Boardriders has announced the composition of the senior management team which will lead the corporation into a new era.
The tragic disappearance at sea last February of Pierre Agnès, the Boardriders CEO set to lead the transition into the group’s new phase, prompted the early appointment of a new group CEO, Dave Tanner, while Thomas Chambolle took on the role of President EMEA. On 20th April, the composition of the group’s new senior management team was then announced.
Tanner has appointed two presidents to work alongside him, both of them also sitting on the board of directors. They are Greg Healy, President Asia-Pacific for Boardriders since last year, and Shannan North, President of Billabong, who will specifically be in charge of the group's retail operations.
No changes meanwhile at the top of the group’s various brands: David Brooks will continue to lead skateboarding brand Element, for which he has been General Manager for a year now. Garry Wall remains in charge of Quiksilver, and Emilie Souvras continues to head women’s board sport brand Roxy. The same goes for Mike Jensen, who remains in charge of DC Shoes. Kevin Meehan, who joined the group in 2017 from Volcom, will also keep his top spot at RVCA, a label whose brand identity combines board sport culture with hip hop, rock and Californian art elements.
At group level, Boardriders has also chosen to go for continuity in most positions. Ilene Eskenazi is confirmed as the group’s HR and Legal Affairs Director, while Julie Ott remains Director of Operations. Nate Smith’s role as Group President Americas, which he took on last July, is also confirmed.
Nicolas Foulet, formerly the Director of IT, e-commerce and digital marketing for Quiksilver, has been promoted to head all IT functions for the Boardriders group.
Among the Billabong managers joining Boardriders after the Australian group’s acquisition, besides the CEO Shannan North, there will be Mike Yerkes, Vice-President Operations and IT at Billabong, now appointed Logistics Director at Boardriders. Billabong’s current Director Europe, Jean-Louis Rodrigues, becomes instead the group's Wholesale Director EMEA.
Some new names are joining Boardriders after the Billabong acquisition. Sonia Lapinsky will be in charge of integration, to ensure the smooth, coordinated functioning of the newly created organisation. Lapinsky was formerly the head of New York-based management consulting firm Alix Partners.
Dan Levine, since 2014 the Executive Vice-President Merchandising and Design for US socks and underwear brand Stance, is the new Brand Portfolio Director at Boardriders, tasked with coordinating the group's brand strategy. Joe Scirocco is instead the group’s new CFO. He formerly worked in the same position at Toms and, from 2007 to 2012, at Quiksilver, before the group defaulted.
Dave Tanner said: “Our new senior management team is a blend of certified talent from Boardriders, Billabong and other companies. The team will drive the two groups’ integration, to become the world’s leading action sport corporation. I’m also especially happy to announce that Greg Healy and Shannan North are joining the board of directors. They will bring to the table their significant industry experience and play a key role in our international expansion.”
Unsurprisingly, this senior management reshuffle has left by the roadside some former Billabong directors. “We wish to thank Neil Fiske, Peter Myers, Tracey Wood, Jim Howell, Mara Pagotto, Paul Burdekin and the Billabong board of directors for their commitment to the success of Billabong, and also to its heritage and character. During this transition period, we greatly appreciate their involvement in the acquisition process and the quality structure and legacy they are leaving in their wake,” said Dave Tanner.
By Sarah Ahssen, Marion Deslandes, Anaïs Lereverend
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