BOULDER, CO (BRAIN)—Spyder, which recently launched a line of downhill mountain biking gear called Freeryde for spring 2008, has hired seasoned professionals with extensive brand growth experience for its Spyder Europe office and Boulder headquarters.
Robert Yturri was hired as business unit director for the Freeryde brand. Yturri comes to Spyder with entrepreneurial experience as a business owner, 10 years experience at The North Face, and most recently three years at Black Diamond.
Now heading Spyder’s Freeryde division, he steers the collection in terms of consumer perception, aesthetics, product diversification, technology and retail turn.
Kirk Graham now leads the brand’s wholly-owned subsidiary Spyder Europe office in Baar, Switzerland as general manager, overseeing all operations, finance, and sales outside of North America. His experience includes a position at Hurley 999 in Barcelona as chief operating officer and director, and two decades at Nike’s rapidly-expanding European retail, brand headquarter, and subsidiary divisions.
John Barron joins Spyder as chief financial officer/executive vice president, administration. Barron directs the finance, operations, supply chain, IT and HR departments, ensuring greater coordination across the company.
Barron came directly from a 12-year career with Nike subsidiary Cole Haan. Previous to his Nike/Cole Haan experience, Barron spent 10 years in high technology and worked in three European countries. —Lynette Carpiet
