Converse
U.S. sportswear giant Nike Inc. has appointed Aaron Cain as the new CEO of its subsidiary brand Converse, succeeding outgoing CEO Jared Carver.
Following his appointment, Aaron Cain will be based at Nike’s headquarters in Oregon. Jared Carver will remain with the company through the end of July to ensure a smooth transition.
Aaron Cain has been with Nike for 21 years, most recently serving as Vice President and General Manager of Nike Men’s. He has previously held leadership roles in Nike’s apparel divisions across North America, Europe, and Asia. He began his career at the Boston Consulting Group in Australia.
L.L. Bean
Heritage American outdoor brand L.L. Bean has announced that its President and CEO, Stephen Smith, will step down in the spring of 2026.
Smith’s departure marks a carefully planned transition aimed at paving the way for the company’s next leader to guide the brand’s long-term growth and omnichannel strategy.
The company’s board of directors, chaired by Shawn Gorman, has begun the search for Smith’s successor and has extended the transition period to ensure a smooth leadership handover.
Stephen Smith joined L.L. Bean in 2016 as the company’s first externally hired CEO. Over nearly a decade, he has fostered a culture of transparency, collaboration, and cross-functional integration, helping to strengthen the organization. His steady leadership guided the company through modernization efforts, expanded market reach, and unprecedented challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. During his tenure, L.L. Bean achieved record profits while staying committed to stakeholders, especially its employees.
Berghaus
British outdoor brand Berghaus, under Pentland Brands, has appointed Adam Field as Vice President of Brand Marketing, effective this July.
In his new role, Field will lead the global marketing team, overseeing the development and execution of brand campaigns worldwide. He will collaborate with local teams and commercial partners to ensure the brand is represented appropriately in each market. He will report to Charlie Pym, Senior Global Vice President.
Field brings 19 years of global marketing experience in the retail and sports sectors, having worked with Reiss, Nike, and Chelsea FC. Most recently, he served as Marketing Director at Reiss, with a focus on digital-first and brand marketing strategies.
Cotopaxi
U.S.-based sustainable outdoor brand Cotopaxi has appointed Julie Menard as Vice President of Sales.
Menard previously served as U.S. Sales Manager at Teva, where she worked for over 14 years. She has also held leadership roles at EARTH FOOTWEAR USA and The Rockport Shoe Company.
The Picklr
Indoor pickleball franchise operator The Picklr has named Abby Olson as Chief Operating Officer.
In this role, Olson will lead the company into its next phase of rapid expansion, refining operational strategies and enhancing execution in areas such as franchisee support systems, training, customer experience, brand compliance, and international growth.
Olson brings extensive experience in franchising, most notably from her tenure at cookie chain Crumbl, where she served as Vice President of Field Operations and Vice President of Training. During her time there, she helped scale the company from fewer than 10 stores to over 1,100, leading its largest team and overseeing up to 16 new store openings per week.
Last year, The Picklr completed a Series B funding round, bringing its total funding to $9 million, with a latest valuation of $59 million. The company has signed agreements for over 500 franchised locations and expects more than 80 new store openings by year-end.
| Sources: Bloomberg, official press releases, SGB Media
| Image Credit: Official press releases, personal social media accounts
| Editor: LeZhi
