AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands - After a 25-year career, of which 15 years were in the role of CEO, Janus Smalbraak resigned at Pon to pursue a new professional challenge. Smalbraak announced this resignation at Pon in a LinkedIn post earlier today. Volkswagen Financial Services AG CEO Christian Dahlheim has been appointed to succeed Janus Smalbraak.
GRENCHEN, Switzerland - Swiss bike manufacturer BMC Switzerland AG, with its brands BMC, Scor and Adicta Lab has communicated a CEO change at the start of next year. On 1 Jan., BMC's Chief Sales Officer (CSO) John Glett will be promoted to Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He will succeed David Zurcher, who is ending his 12-year tenure at the top.
FONZASO, Italy - Fashion in cycling apparel and bicycles has long taken a different path, if only because the life cycle and price range of both categories are far apart. Still, there are a lot of parallels, only because the audience is the same. How do both worlds interact, and how can they strengthen each other? Castelli product line manager, Andrew Montgomery, took a deep dive into Castelli's market approach and how the fashion world interacts with its brand strategy.
PARIS, France - This was the question looking to be answered at the recently held Summit Series in Paris, supported by CIE's Women in Cycling expert group. The event, focusing on the retention and recruitment of women in the bicycle industry, hoped to 'lead the change' in correcting the current imbalance in the sector. With cross-spectrum representatives from industry and academia present, the conclusion was that progress is slow, and opportunities are being missed.
GIRONA, Spain - Accell Group has appointed William Perrier as managing director for Southern Europe in a role that was cut a couple of years ago. The renewed focus on the region is part of the group's strategy aimed at accelerating its development in the key markets of France, Spain, Portugal and Andorra. Perrier was presented at Sea Otter Europe as the man to boost the sales of Accell brands Lapierre, Ghost, Winora and Haibike, which are at the core of sales in the region.
EINDHOVEN, the Netherlands - Shimano announces that Marc van Rooij, president of the Shimano Europe Group, will leave the company by the end of 2025. Van Rooij has worked at Shimano for over 34 years in various management positions, including Shimano Benelux, Shimano Europe and Shimano Europe Holding. He has been president of the Shimano Europe Group since 2009.
