AGOURA HILLS, CA (BRAIN)—Former Pearl Izumi national sales manager Patricia Babka has been named vice president of sales for Gramicci.
Babka joins the team with more than 20 years experience in sales and general management, primarily in the technical and outdoor apparel industry. Most recently, she was general manager for the Americas at Skins USA.
Babka, while at Pearl Izumi, managed a team of 27 independent sales reps and employees who helped expand the division’s sales by more than 22 percent in a two-year period. Her experience in cycling dovetails with Gramicci’s efforts with its Urban Biking product.
“Patricia has been an important part of the industry’s most groundbreaking and successful companies,” said Marty Weening, president of the Agoura Hills-based company. “That quality of experience will help navigate us through our current growth surge and future brand plans.”
One of Babka’s initial duties will be to expand and complete the company’s independent sales force. Over the longer term, she will help foster stronger relations with retail partners and develop new customers for Gramicci and its Greenicci collection of eco-friendly apparel.
“We have found another Gramicci disciple in Patricia, who is quite capable of getting the word out to new retailers what Gramicci is already doing for its existing customers everywhere,” Weening said.
Babka embraces her role at Gramicci, a brand for which she has great respect thanks to a strong history built over 26 years. “This is a great time to be at Gramicci, as the company continues on its revitalization,” she said. “I was involved with other companies such as The North Face and Columbia when they were in very similar positions and at the beginning of dynamic growth. With Gramicci’s amazing heritage, there is endless potential. That potential is magnified by a recent history of unveiling innovative new products and a never-the-norm approach to doing business. Those factors differentiate Gramicci from others in a sometimes homogeneous outdoor apparel market.”
