Rossignol Group appoints Sr. Vice President of sales for North America

September 22, 2021

Expanded role emphasizes commitment to sales growth of Winter Sports Equipment in U.S. and Canada

Park City, UT – Sept 22^nd, 2021 /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ Rossignol Group North America is pleased to announce the immediate appointment of Chris Horan as Sr. Vice President of Sales, Winter Sports Equipment. Horan will be responsible for overseeing the Group’s Winter Sports Equipment (WSE) business in both the U.S. and Canada, working closely with both regional and global sales management, marketing, and commercial teams to accelerate WSE growth in North America (NorAm). The Group’s WSE business is composed of a portfolio of iconic, heritage brands including: Rossignol, Dynastar, Lange, LOOK, and Kerma.

Horan will now work closely alongside Kurt Hoefler and Dennis Gaspari in the U.S., who will each continue in their roles as VP Sales and Marketing for Rossignol, and Dynastar, Lange, LOOK, respectively. In Canada, Horan will continue to work alongside Director for WSE, Denis Leclaire and Nenad Lukac, Western Sales Manager, WSE.

“I’m very excited to expand the ongoing collaboration with our sales management teams in both the U.S. and Canada. Over the past 10 years this group has worked very hard to refocus and realign our NorAm product offers and go-to-market strategies while keeping our foot firmly on the gas from a commercial standpoint,” added Horan. “The steps we’ve taken toward developing a more harmonized North American offer have proven critical in creating a more consistent, efficient, and methodical approach to streamlining our sales and marketing activities. I look forward to continuing on this commercial path while striving to exceed the expectations of both the broader winter sports market and our specialty retail partners.”      

A passionate skier, cyclist, and outdoor advocate, Horan is a 33-year industry veteran with experience spanning retail, product marketing, sales, and general management. Since 2007, Horan has served as VP & GM, Rossignol Group Canada during which time he oversaw all brands, categories, and business units in the Group portfolio for the Canadian market. In addition to his now broadened role overseeing both the U.S. and Canada, Horan’s continued involvement with the global product, sales, and marketing teams will ensure the needs of the Group’s wholesale retail partners in North America and the market at large continue to be met.

“Over the past 14 years, Chris has proven himself to be a highly knowledgeable, adaptable, and effective leader in terms of driving our Groups’ business in Canada,” said Francois Goulet, President Rossignol Group North America & VP Global Sales. “I’m not only confident he’s up to the task at hand, but look forward to watching him and our talented sales teams accelerate the brands forward in the years to come.”  

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GROUP ROSSIGNOL:

Headed by its new CEO Vincent Wauters, Group Rossignol designs, manufactures and markets a broad range of winter sports and outdoor equipment. The Group’s brands provide a continuous, year-round experience accompanying consumers in every moment of sporting effort and leisure, from elite-level athletes to amateurs, from the mountains to the city. The Group’s global headquarters is located in the French Alps near Grenoble with five different industrial sites (Sallanches, Nevers, Saint Etienne de Saint Geoirs, Artès, Montebelluna) across western Europe and a U.S. headquarters in Park City, Utah. The Group houses a strong portfolio of complementary brands: Rossignol – the iconic brand for winter sports, and ready-to-wear fashion and apparel; Dynastar – the specialist ski brand; Lange – the iconic ski boot brand; Look – the long-standing premium manufacturer of ski bindings; Felt – the premium bike manufacturer; Risport – the reference for ice-skating; Kerma – specialized in ski poles and technical equipment; and Dale of Norway, an iconic Norwegian brand known for its high quality wool-based knitwear. Each has built their own unique identity and draws their inspiration from the mountains. Rossignol is majority owned by Nordic Private Equity fund Altor since 2013.