Chiuduno, Italy: KASK America – the North American subsidiary of leading sports helmet brand, KASK – appointed Brendan Gecik as North America Cycling Sales Manager of its Cycling Division, as of September.
With retail and wholesale sales experience spanning more than 15 years and an extensive cycling brand portfolio under his belt, Gecik brings a wealth of industry expertise. Having spent seven years representing major brands such as Lazer Helmets, Quality Bicycle Products (QBP), Pivot and GORE Bike Wear, Gecik now joins KASK America following his most recent role as North American Sales Manager for bicycle distributor, Highway Two (H2).
Gecik said: "I'm honored to be a part of the company's expansion. KASK is a brand that has been growing exponentially and doing that on the merit of its product quality. I believe in focus, and by having a team dedicated to our efforts, I know we will be successful in taking the next steps to elevate our brand in the marketplace."
The new appointment coincides with a phase of major investments for the KASK Charlotte office in North Carolina, which opened in 2010. This year will not only see the inauguration of a new office location at W Summit Avenue, Charlotte, but also a new team of Brand Specialists who will serve the West, East and Midwest areas for all of KASK's Sports Divisions.
Three key Brand Specialists stepping onboard KASK America are Scott Carlile, Ryan Hiscoe and Tony Francione.
Scott Carlile, West Coast Brand Specialist
Scott Carlile will join KASK America as the new West Coast Brand Specialist, based in Portland, Oregon. He brings over a decade of bicycle industry experience, most recently as a Product Education and Visual Merchandising Specialist for Specialized Bicycle Components University (SBCU), Specialized Bicycles' retail education program.
Carlile said: "KASK and KOO Eyewear have made the commitment to engineering the highest quality and innovative Italian products, and I am pleased that they have made that same commitment to the US marketplace. I am thrilled to join the team at KASK America and look forward to continuing to improve our support for both retailers and riders."
Ryan Hiscoe, East Coast Cycling Brand Specialist
Ryan Hiscoe joins KASK America with over 10 years' worth of experience in the cycling, running and triathlon industries in multiple countries. Having grown up racing bikes in South Africa as well as competing in triathlon and running, he now focuses his attention on road and mountain bike riding. Most recently, Hiscoe has worked with Velocio Apparel, and prior to that, with Cycling Sports Group (CSG), representing the likes of Cannondale, Fabric, Sugoi and Sombrio. Since relocating from the UK to the USA, Hiscoe has spent the past four years serving the New England IBD region.
Hiscoe said: "I have been lucky to have always worked with some of the best brands in the industry. KASK is no exception to this. I have always loved the look and fit of their products. The reviews speak for themselves. In my opinion, they are the best in the industry."
Tony Francione, Midwest Cycling Brand Specialist
Tony Francione joins the KASK America team after cutting his teeth with global component company, SRAM, based in Chicago, and more recently with CeramicSpeed, a top tier ceramic bearing supplier based in Denmark. Born into road cycling, Francione enjoys the many cycling disciplines that suit Midwest riding. With Italian roots, he is excited to be connected to a brand with such strong Italian heritage as KASK, and looks forward to engaging Midwest dealers with products that stem from that tradition. Based in West Michigan, Francione will support KASK America in the Midwest, as far south as Texas and extending west into Colorado.
Ylenia Battistello, Cycling Brand Manager at KASK, said: "This is an exciting time for KASK America. I am absolutely thrilled to have Brendan Gecik on board as the new Sales Manager for KASK America's Cycling Division, as well as three incredibly well-placed Brand Specialists. Their appointment within the Charlotte team is an essential step towards the goal of bringing new opportunities and challenges to the ambitious North American market and I look forward to seeing how their respective industry insights will enrich the future success of KASK America."
