PARIS — Signaling the vital importance of the American market for board sports, Kering has named Todd Hymel chief executive officer of its action sports brands, a new role based in Costa Mesa, Calif. He starts July 1.
Previously, Hymel, 41, was the Paris-based chief operating officer of Kering’s sport and lifestyle division, whose core brand is Puma.
An American and French national, Hymel will continue reporting to Jean-François Palus, group managing director of Kering, parent of Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Boucheron, Brioni and others.
Hymel is charged with establishing a stronger presence for the French group on the West Coast of the U.S., and ramping up the expansion and performance of the Volcom and Electric brands worldwide. The ceo’s of those brands will report to Hymel.
Volcom, which markets apparel for men, women and boys, and accessories-driven Electric posted 2014 revenues of 255 million euros, or $339 million at average exchange rates, and generated operating profits of 10 million euros, or $13.3 million. Kering’s other sports brands are Cobra Puma Golf and Tretorn.
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Hymel joined Kering in 2008 as deputy director of mergers and acquisitions before moving to the sport and lifestyle role in 2012. He started his career at KPMG in 1996 in New Orleans, ultimately moving to the auditing firm’s Paris office. In 2006, he founded Naxos Capital Partners, a private equity firm.
No successor to Hymel will be named. He continues as a member of the administrative board of Puma.