Nonetheless No Reply from Kona Bicycles as Model’s Future is the Speak of Sea Otter

Sea Otter is in full swing and there are a lot of manufacturers in attendance. However it’s the model that isn’t in attendance that’s producing essentially the most buzz. After showing on web site and establishing their tent, Kona Bicycles then tore down that very same tent earlier than the present even began. By the point we rolled into the venue on Wednesday on the finish of our journey with Otso Bicycles, the area for Kona’s tent was already vacant (circled above).

The transfer is a head-scratcher for quite a few causes – the model had simply unveiled a new journey bike because the present opened, and it looks as if an odd transfer contemplating that they had already paid to get their sales space to the venue and set it up. Nonetheless, the day after their mysterious exit, it was introduced that Kona’s mother or father firm, Kent Outside, had simply appointed a brand new CFO. In keeping with the press launch, new CFO Rob Otto has expertise “enhancing profitability and operational efficiencies together with managing integrations”. Conspicuously absent from the press launch is any point out of Kona Bicycles.

We’ve poked round Sea Otter to seek out extra particulars, however for now, nobody is prepared to make any form of touch upon the file. BRAIN reported earlier within the week that the corporate anticipated to have a “city corridor” assembly on Thursday, which appears prone to have taken place, however with none additional information. We’ll maintain digging, however for now, the way forward for Kona stays up for interpretation.

PR From Kent Outside:

Govt Rent is A part of Firm’s Strategic Funding in Management, Innovation and Operations

SALT LAKE CITY, April 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Kent Outside (“Kent” or the “Firm”), which has been serving to folks of their pursuit of out of doors adventures for greater than 60 years, is happy to announce that it has added Rob Ottoto the corporate’s govt administration crew as the corporate’s chief monetary officer. With an exemplary monitor file within the client packaged items (CPG) area of enhancing profitability and operational efficiencies together with managing integrations, Otto brings a wealth of expertise and experience to the Kent crew and portfolio of manufacturers.

“We’re extraordinarily excited to welcome Rob Otto to the Kent crew,” mentioned Kent Govt Chairman Lee Belitsky. “He’s an skilled chief who will assist information Kent as we actively pursue new alternatives.”

As a results-oriented finance chief, Otto has been acknowledged for his skill to quickly interpret complicated conditions, formulate options, and make sound selections. He possesses appreciable expertise implementing processes and enterprise options that spur development and enhance operations and profitability.

Otto joins Kent after efficiently finishing the sale of RW Designs, the place he served as the corporate’s chief monetary officer and chief working officer, a wholesale and direct-to-consumer enterprise. Prior, Otto held CFO and COO govt management roles at a number of CPG firms corresponding to Z Gallerie, Hudson Denims, Seven For All Mankind, and Affliction Holdings.

“Kent possesses a number of the most acknowledged names and types within the {industry} and it’s my purpose to make sure the corporate stays an {industry} chief whereas enhancing operational capability and processes to make sure our amenities and persons are working at their peak,” mentioned Otto.

About Kent Outside
Based in 1959 in New London, Ohio, Kent Outside is a various platform of out of doors manufacturers with a broad product set spanning private flotation units, wakeboards, water skis, towable tubes, snowboards and extra. The Firm’s portfolio of greater than 15 iconic manufacturers contains industry- main names corresponding to HO/Hyperlite, Connelly, O’Brien, Liquid Drive, Onyx, Aquaglide, Barefoot/Fatsac, BOTE, and Arbor Snowboards (managed by settlement with the Arbor Collective), which have all contributed to the Firm’s long-term success in serving a broad base of motion sports activities contributors of all ages and ability ranges.