MT. KISCO, N.Y. (BRAIN) — Eddy Merckx Cycles has appointed Tom Van Cauwenberghe as its new CEO as the brand's parent company and board continue to execute a multi-year plan to make it profitable.
Van Cauwenberghe most recently was CEO of Santana International, a company that operated 10 retail shops selling interior decorations.
The company said Van Cauwenberghe's assignment is "to improve the links between the administrative, financial and operational/logistical processes," and "to make sure that the sales & marketing focus to support the Merckx brand worldwide is maintained."
Rolf Singenberger, a longtime product development manager at BMC, remains Eddy Merckx Cycles' chief development officer. Rob Beset, who had been the company's CEO, will now be responsible for business development within the management team and will be in charge of the further internationalization of the Merckx brand.
The brand's parent company, Diepensteyn, invested more capital last summer. In the last two and a half years, Eddy Merckx Cycles has expanded its international distribution from six to 30 countries, so that exports now account for two-thirds of its sales. EMC now runs sales offices in Brussels, New York and Taiwan.
Eddy Merckx Cycles switched suppliers in Asia and expanded its product line to include bikes in steel, aluminum and carbon in road, gravel, 'cross, track and triathlon categories.
"For the moment, financial success still needs to be realized. The capital increase provided by parent company Diepensteyn this past summer and the recently approved multi-year plan gives EMC the necessary clout to expand to the next level," the company said in a press release.
Related: Merckx revitalized with growing dealer base and new models.
