Wide range of appointments to aid Billabong turnaround initiative
Australian sportswear brand Billabong has announced a large number of changes in its leadership team. Following the appointment as its new chief executive in September 2013 of Neal Fiske, a former Eddie Bauer chief executive, Billbaong has been engaged in an intensive turnaround strategy.
At the end of February, Mr Fiske announced a new company structure and a string of key appointments to “align the organisation to the turnaround plan”. The main aim of Neal Fiske’s plan is to accelerate global growth in the company’s “big three” brands (Billabong, Element, RVCA). The February structure announcement was about creating global brand structures to maximise the potential of these three brands, he said on making the changes.
Shannan North, who has been at Billabong since 2004, has been appointed global Billabong brand president. Paul Burdekin, currently general manager for Tigerlily, RVCA and Von Zipper for Asia Pacific, has been appointed acting general manager for the region.
Bennett Nussbaum has been appointed to lead Billabong’s turnaround office, which will oversee the company’s cost reduction and restructuring initiatives. He has a track record of success in large turnaround projects in the US, including initiatives for brands such as Winn-Dixie and Burger King.
Mara Pagotto has been appointed as chief human resources officer. She, too, has extensive experience in turnaround situations in the US.
Mr Fiske also confirmed the following appointments throughout the organisation:
Felipe Motta – Latin America vice-president Billabong brand
Susan Branch – global women’s general manager (announced previously)
Lisa Stemmler – global vice-president women’s design
Brad Lancaster – global men’s creative director
Jason Shelton – vice-president sales (US)
Justin Cook – national sales manager (Australia)
Michael Minter – global creative marketing director.
