LAFAYETTE, Colo. (BRAIN) — Blue Cycles is transitioning its operations to the West Coast and readying for an introduction of its 2016 line even as its CEO, Steven Harad, is no longer with the company.
Harad's last day as CEO was July 24, he told BRAIN on Friday. He will assist in the transition for 90 days. The industry veteran led Blue during its time as part of the now-bankrupt Divine Cycling Group and then helped negotiate the brand's 2013 sale to a Delaware-based investment group whose principals are the owners of Taiwan's Asahi bike factory.
Blue will announce a new CEO soon, said Orli Chinea, the brand's U.S. sales manager. Chinea, who is based in Colorado, said Blue's U.S. operations are transitioning to Orange County, Calif. The company had previously been headquartered in Delaware, where Harad was based.
Chinea said Blue's expanded 2016 bike line will be hitting the U.S. market in the coming weeks. The line includes 24 new models, including a fat bike, kids bikes, and new cyclocross, road and TT models. The brand will launch the new line at Interbike.
As a sales rep, Chinea has been with Blue through several ownerships, dating back to its founders. "I'm super-stoked with the direction of the company right now, and the changes we are making. I think the company is about as strong as it's ever been and the product coming for 2016 is unbelievable."
Meanwhile Harad said he's enjoying helping out at a friend's bike shop in the short term and exploring other opportunities.
"Unfortunately things were not working out there," Harad told BRAIN. "I'm not sure what's going to ultimately happen with Blue. It's great brand that hasn't had a chance to shine. Somebody might be able to turn it around, but it's not going to be me."
In addition to Harad's departure, Matthew Reece, who had been Blue's marketing director on a part-time freelance basis since last October, also is no longer with the company.
"On my end it came down to: they wanted 40-hours-a-week of work for a 15-hour-a-week price and we just weren't able to work anything out," Reece said. Reece, a 20-year marketing and sales veteran and former editor and publisher of Liberty Sports magazine, said he is exploring several opportunities in and outside the bike industry.
