SIMI VALLEY, Calif. (BRAIN) — Accell Group NV plans to separate its North American e-bike business into a focused, stand-alone business called Raleigh Electric, which will be based in California and headed up by Larry Pizzi, who will leave his current position as senior vice president of Accell North America's specialty division.
E-bikes now account for 43 percent of Accell's business in Europe. The company is confident is can replicate that success in the U.S. with a "strategic emphasis" on e-bikes, said René Takens, the chairman of the board of directors of Accell Group.
Pizzi will now report directly to Accell Group in the Netherlands. Also transitioning from Accell North America to Raleigh Electric are Rob Kaplan, who will lead commercial activities, and Curt Davis, who will lead product research, development and engineering. Raleigh Electric will be headquartered at the company's existing Electric Bike Competence Center (EBCC) facility in Simi Valley.
The Accell-owned performance e-bike brand Haibike will continue in North America with its existing sales force under the direction of Haibike in Germany.
