CARLSBAD, Calif. (BRAIN) — Canyon's Blair Clark is retiring as North America general manager, and his responsibilities are being temporarily transferred to the brand's headquarters in Koblenz, Germany.
A new North America general manager will be announced soon, Canyon said in a statement.
"It has been my pleasure to contribute to Canyon's market development and expansion in North America," Clark said. "Today, Canyon is heading toward becoming the most inspiring and innovative bike brand in the world. This would not have been possible if we had not had a burning passion for cycling that continues to excite and motivate us every day. ...."
Clark said he will continue to serve in a voluntary role as president of the PeopleForBikes Foundation.
"While Blair chose to take early retirement, I am delighted that he will stay close to the bike industry and will remain a true ambassador to the Canyon brand," said Canyon CEO Nicolas de Ros Wallace.
Clark joined Canyon in 2017, when he helped start the brand's North American presence. Canyon said Clark "played a crucial role" in the company's growth. During his tenure, he expanded customer-centric operations — opening the second public showroom and factory service center — and impacted the company's German manufacturing expertise to reinforce global identity, Canyon said.
Before joining Canyon, Clark was GU Energy Labs president and CEO. He also served as senior vice president of sales and marketing for Smith Optics for more than a decade and is a former vice president at Specialized and president of Giro.
"Blair's contributions to Canyon's business development and commercial activities have been crucial to the global management team," de Ros Wallace said. "For me, personally, Blair has been a trusted partner, and I greatly value his industry acumen. He will have a lasting impact on the people and performance of Canyon U.S. and will leave a company which is well-positioned to embrace the next wave of innovations and performance for our customers, to enhance the brand experience, and ensure sustainable growth and business excellence. ...."
In January, Canyon hired Chad Manuell to fill the chief technology officer position. Manuell is part of the executive leadership team.
