Black Diamond Equipment announced several new key roles and hires to strengthen its integrated global infrastructure.
“The new infrastructure encourages global communications between Black Diamond North America and Europe as trends and innovation happen in real time and are not constrained by geography,” explains Ryan Gellert brand president for Black Diamond. “Thus, our new functional-centric model enables direct collaboration while always keeping the user in the center.”
On June 1st 2014, Olav Nietzer will oversee the brand from his position as Black Diamond sales and brand director Europe. Nietzer joined Black Diamond in January 2013 after serving as director of European sales for Burton, Red and Anon.　 Prior to that, he held various positions at Johnson & Johnson, UBS and Credit Suisse.
Nietzer takes over this role, as Christian Jaeggi steps down from his role as brand leader and managing director for Black Diamond AG. Jaeggi established Black Diamond Europe 18 years ago as a one-man operation in Basel Switzerland. Today Black Diamond is over 50 people and operates across Europe. Jaeggi will officially step down on May, 31, 2014 yet remain active in supporting the transition until December 31, 2014 and involved with future projects.
“This planned move is part of a steady strategic organizational shift from being run on a regional-centric model to that of a global and functional-centric model,” explains Peter Metcalf CEO and president.
Working with Nietzer will be a management team constructed by Jaeggi including Thomas Hodel, European category director hardgoods, who rejoined Black Diamond in January2013 having previously worked for the company from 2002　 – 2011; Sven Mostoegl, European category director apparel joined Black Diamond in July 2012 working prior at The North Face; David Ledouble, apparel sales manager Europe who joined BD in 2005 and Stephan Hagenbusch, director of European marketing who joined the group in January 2014 from Amer Sports where he served as marketing manager Germany & central Europe.
In North America, Niclas Bornling has been named vice president of marketing. Bornling joins Black Diamond after 10 years in Annecy France working for Salomon with his most recent role as brand director. Prior to that Bornling led marketing for Salomon in Sweden and the Nordic countries for five years.
