EXECUTIVE CHANGES
+++ Nike’s Chief Innovation Officer Tony Bignell is stepping down after less than a year, marking the third leadership change in the role in under three years and underscoring ongoing instability in the company’s innovation function
+++ Oberalp has strengthened its North American marketing team by hiring Laurel Walker as Marketing Manager and promoting Alex Pasmann to Marketing Specialist to support brand growth and market expansion
+++ US-based activewear brand Vuori has appointed Heather Archibald as its new Chief Product Officer, tasking her with leading end-to-end product strategy and innovation to support the brand’s global growth and product-first vision
+++ American Outdoor Brands has appointed Tyler Lindwall as Vice President of Corporate Development to lead acquisition strategy, transaction execution and integration efforts as part of its long-term growth plan +++
CSR & SUSTAINABILITY
+++ US specialty fashion retailer Pacsun has expanded its PS Vintage resale concept from online to 16 physical stores, offering curated, one-of-a-kind secondhand apparel in partnership with SPRINGY to tap into Gen Z demand for individuality, sustainability and in-person retail experiences
+++ On and the Running Industry Diversity Coalition have launched a three-year US program to expand access to coaching and training by reducing financial barriers and connecting participants with inclusive movement and fitness resources +++
CORPORATE AND M&A
+++ Citadel Advisors has reduced its short position in Revolution Race below the public disclosure threshold, leaving total reported short interest at 2.13% with one remaining disclosed short seller
+++ Action sports company Mervin Manufacturing has been acquired by Spring Capital Group, with the new owner committing to support the company’s leadership, sustain its US-based production and enable long-term growth aligned with its innovation and sustainability focus +++
RETAIL & DISTRIBUTION
+++ Skechers has opened its first flagship store in Copenhagen (a 700-sqm location at Amagertorv), expanding its Nordic presence with a full showcase of performance, lifestyle and comfort-focused products
+++ Montania Sport, a French outdoor retailer established in 2005 and based near Chambery, will cease operations permanently at the end of April
+++ Oxbow has opened a new store in Carnac, Brittany, continuing its retail expansion across France as part of a broader strategy to strengthen its distribution network and reconnect with its outdoor-focused brand identity +++
E-COMMERCE & DTC
+++ Cycle Limited, a US online retailer specializing in certified pre-owned bicycles, has partnered with German premium component brand Lightweight to expand its Trade-Up program, enabling dealers to offer seamless bike trade-ins while tapping into the growing high-end pre-owned cycling market +++
PRODUCT & MARKETING
+++ Igloo has launched the Gripper CoolBox 10 Qt, a durable, feature-driven personal cooler designed as a versatile everyday lunchbox for workers and commuters, priced at $59.99 and available through multiple retail channels
+++ Sweet Protection has launched the Tucker III 2Vi Mips, an advanced aero road cycling helmet developed with Uno-X Mobility Cycling, combining aerodynamic performance, lightweight construction and race-proven safety for high-speed riding
+++ Italian outdoor equipment brand Ferrino has announced alpinist brothers Iker and Eneko Pou as brand ambassadors in a new agreement via Spanish distributor Snow Factory
+++ Suunto has partnered with Tracksmith’s Stamata women’s marathon team to support athletes with training resources and performance gear as they prepare for the 2028 US Olympic Marathon Trials
+++ Sportverse, a UK endurance sports directory that aims to simplify how athletes find out about endurance clubs, services and events by centralizing listings that are usually spread across multiple sources, launched earlier this year, is reportedly seeing a growing number of events and organizations joining
+++ Luminox has introduced a new MIL-SPEC-compliant colorway of its 3350 watch series – designed for military-grade performance and used by elite units and adventurers, including Bear Grylls – featuring enhanced durability, precision and visibility
+++ Regatta Great Outdoors has launched Regatta Life, a new fashion-led lifestyle collection expanding beyond its core outdoor range, building on strong sales growth and targeting everyday wear with trend-driven apparel and accessories
+++ Bosch eBike Systems has released version 1.34 of its eBike Flow app, adding features such as automated trick tracking, heart rate analysis, improved navigation, expanded eShift integration and a new SmartphoneGrip Vertical that enables smartphones to function as a portrait-format display
+++ Smartwool has entered a sponsorship agreement with Life Time athletic country clubs across the US and Canada to integrate its Merino wool apparel and brand experiences across athletic clubs, major endurance events and the 30 Strong Challenge, targeting a broad health and wellness audience +++
TRADE SHOWS & EVENTS
+++ The 4th edition of Bim Bam Boom, the French event for the outdoor community that combines industry networking and fun, will take place in Beaufort in Savoie on June 30, 2026 +++
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