SFIA Elects Chris Clawson of Life Fitness Chairman of the Board

Source: Sports & Fitness Industry Association

Senior Executives from Brooks, New Balance, Performance Sports Group, Rawlings, Sears, and Under Armour Assume New Director Roles

SILVER SPRING, MD – November 5, 2015 – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) announced the election of Life Fitness President Chris Clawson as Chairman of the Board for a one-year term. SFIA’s Tom Cove will remain as President and CEO. The announcement was made at the conclusion of SFIA’s Annual Meeting on November 5.

“It is an honor to be elected and serve as Chairman of SFIA,” said Clawson. “As the association enters its 109^th year, we have the responsibility to unite our members and use all of our resources to reverse the inactivity crisis and increase participation. I would like to thank my predecessor, Bob Puccini, for all of his hard work over the past three years as Chairman to position SFIA to enter a new era of success and prosperity.”    

“Under Chris’ leadership, SFIA will be fully committed to our mission of growing sports and fitness participation,” said Cove. “We look forward to a new era of unity and industry vitality with Chris leading the way as we continue to implement the SFIA Increase Participation Plan.”

New additions to the board this year are: Kevin Davis (CEO; Performance Sports Group), Jim Weber (CEO; Brooks Running Company), Mike Zlaket (President & CEO; Rawlings Sporting Goods), Simha Kumar (SVP & President for Sporting Goods, Fitness, and Children’s Entertainment, Sears), Adam Peake (Executive Vice President of Global Marketing; Under Armour, Inc.), and Jonathan Ram (Executive Vice President, North America; New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc.).

Those re-elected to the board include: Jennifer Bendall (Sr. Director of Government Affairs; Nike, Inc.), Jim Gerson (President; Speedo USA), Jeff Padovan (CEO; Bite Tech Inc), and Michael Savage (CEO; Fitness EM, LLC.).

Newly elected directors will join existing board members Brian Anderson (Interim CEO; Moji), Jim Baugh (CEO & Founder; PHIT America), Stephen Binkley (Chief Merchandising Officer; Sports Authority), Melissa Dawson (President; Molten USA), Larry Franklin (President; Franklin Sports), Brian Jennings (Chief Marketing Officer; NHL), Sal LaRocca (President, Global Operations and Merchandising; NBA), Neil Morton (President & CEO; Everlast Worldwide), Jim Pisani (President; VF Licensed Sports Group), Jonathan Letzler (President & CEO; Augusta Sportswear Group), and Kurt Tandan (Associate General Counsel & Sr. Director of Corporate Affairs, adidas).

“An immense debt of gratitude is owed to all SFIA’s board members. From the new additions to the board to the returning members, their willingness to participate and contribute to our association truly makes a difference to the health of our industry,” concluded Cove.

ABOUT SFIA

The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs, and member services. For more information, please visit www.sfia.org.