EXECUTIVE CHANGES
+++ Jeff Bezos is returning to an active leadership role as co‑CEO of heavily funded AI startup Project Prometheus, which launches with over $6 billion to develop artificial intelligence for engineering and manufacturing
+++ Montréal-based running brand Ciele Athletics has appointed industry veteran Corey Stecker as Global Head of Sales to drive international growth and strengthen partnerships across key retail markets +++
FINANCIAL RESULTS
+++ PDD Holdings, the parent of Temu and Pinduoduo, beat Q3 profit forecasts with a 14% rise in adjusted earnings, but slower revenue growth, regulatory headwinds and market concerns sent its shares down 5% +++
CORPORATE AND M&A
+++ Former Amazon AI leaders have launched Zurich-based startup Albatross from stealth with $12.5 million in seed funding to offer a real-time, AI-powered product discovery platform that adapts instantly to in-session customer behavior
+++ Simon Mottram, founder of Rapha, has become lead investor in Quirk Cycles’ latest funding round, supporting the London-based brand’s plans to scale production and expand its range of high-end steel and titanium bikes globally +++
PRODUCT & MARKETING
+++ French eyewear brand Julbo has added Italian trail runner Francesco Puppi to its roster
+++ Look Cycle and the French Cycling Federation (FFC) have further extended their partnership, which has been in place for over 35 years, in view of LA28 and Brisbane 2032
+++ German outdoor brand Deuter has been named official supplier of backpacks and travel gear for the US Biathlon team, supporting athletes and staff throughout the 2025/26 season
+++ The Lycra Company, Dovetail Workwear and Sapphire Finishing Mills have teamed up to launch Coolswap, a Spring 2026 women’s workwear collection made with lightweight, durable Lycra EcoMade fiber and designed to deliver cooling comfort without compromising performance or sustainability
+++ Salomon has integrated Polartec Power Dry fabric into its new Arcane Prime Mips helmet and Flexcell Prime back protector to enhance moisture management, comfort and thermal regulation during dynamic snow activities
+++ Thok E-Bikes has entered a strategic year-round partnership with Italy’s Cervino Ski Paradise to promote outdoor activities and showcase its premium e-MTBs in a prestigious alpine setting
+++ The North Face has launched The Coldest Dub, a remix challenge built around an exclusive a cappella by grime (a British electronic music genre from the early 2000s) legend D Double E, inviting emerging producers to rework the track for a chance at an official release as part of a campaign supporting grassroots music culture and reconnecting the brand with grime’s next generation
+++ Garmin has rolled out free software updates for select smartwatches and cycling computers, adding new health tracking, performance insights and 3D mapping features
+++ Arizona-based Kahtoola has unveiled a redesigned collection of waterproof gaiters for Fall 2026, offering improved fit, comfort and durability for hiking, running and backpacking
+++ Carhartt has launched the Greenfields Rugged Flex 02, a durable, flexible occupational work boot designed for long shifts in workshops, agriculture and transportation sectors +++
RETAIL & DISTRIBUTION
+++ Rapha has opened its first mainland-China “Clubhouse” in Shanghai, introducing an updated version of its café-and-community retail concept as the brand responds to growing demand among Chinese cyclists
+++ Saucony has opened a new 132-sqm showroom at the O1 Ordercenter Mainhausen, showcasing its lifestyle and performance collections in a modern setting
+++ Timberland has opened its first standalone store in the Detroit metropolitan area, a 130-sqm location in the historic Traver Building on Woodward Avenue +++
LEGAL & INSTITUTIONAL
+++ CardiacSense has quietly settled separate lawsuits with Garmin and Coros over cardiac monitoring technology, potentially impacting the future of the smartwatch market +++
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