New General Manager for Hayes Bicycle Group

Mequon, US - Hayes Bicycle Group (HBG) has named Kurt Person general manager and vice president of its Hayes Bicycle Group division. Person succeeds Rhonda Kirkwood, who has led the bike group since 2001 as general manager and vice president. Kirkwood will remain with HBG for the short term to support the leadership transition.

Person will be responsible for the overall operations of the division, which includes the Manitou, SUNringlé, Wheelsmith Hayes Disc Brakes and Answer brands. He will work out of the HBG corporate headquarters in Mequon, Wis. HBG is a division of HB Performance Systems, Inc.

“Kurt brings more than 20 years of design/engineering and business management experience to the position from the automotive and brake industries,” said Rand McNally, president and CEO of HB Performance Systems.

Person’s most recent position was vice president of new business development at Northern Star Industries Inc, a leading truck equipment and electrical power equipment manufacturer. Prior to that he spent 16 years at Robert Bosch Corp. where he held positions of increasing responsibility, from engineer to vice president in product development and project management of brake, chassis, and vehicle stability control systems and components.

Under Kirkwood’s leadership, HBG’s annual revenues increased more than 60 percent. Kirkwood also managed the integration of three business operations into Hayes Bicycle Group. “We are all truly going to Miss Rhonda’s leadership and commitment to the company and its customers, but we also respect her personal decision to pursue other interests at this point in her life,” said McNally.