Fila Korea Ltd. and its holding company Global Leading Brands
House (GLBH) announced today its new executive management team for
Fila.
Yoon-Soo (Gene) Yoon, Chairman and CEO of Fila Korea, who led the
acquisition along with sportswear industry veteran and former Fila CEO
Jon Epstein, will become Chairman of GLBH and Fila. He has been
associated with the Fila brand since 1984 when he served as the
company's first footwear sourcing agent in Korea.
In 1991, Mr. Yoon launched the subsidiary Fila Korea where he
built a successful network of franchise retail stores. The subsidiary
was sold in 2003 to Sport Brands International which bought all of
Fila's global operating businesses.
In 2005, Mr. Yoon purchased a long-term license for Fila in Korea
from Sport Brands International. Today, with more than 500 total
points of distribution including 300 franchise stores, Fila ranks as
one of the top sportswear brands in Korea.
Mr. Epstein, 52, played a pivotal role in facilitating the Fila
sale to Fila Korea and GLBH. With more than 30 years experience in the
athletic footwear and apparel industry, he has served in senior sales
and management roles with adidas, Fila and Le Coq Sportif. In his new
capacity, Mr. Epstein will oversee global product development, sales
and marketing for the brand. He will also serve as the company's
President of Fila USA, Inc.
Joining Mr. Yoon and Mr. Epstein as President of GLBH and Fila is
Y.C. Cho who most recently served as President of Fila Korea. Mr. Cho
will relocate from Seoul, Korea to Sparks, Md. where the company's
U.S. operations are based. In his new capacity, Mr. Cho will oversee
global operations and finance for the company.
Under the leadership of Mr. Yoon and Mr. Epstein, Fila will
emphasize its strong heritage in the sportswear category in
traditional country club sports including tennis, golf and ski. In
that regard, the company plans to maintain and expand its affiliations
with world class professional athletes and events.
Additionally, the company will leverage its strong equity in the
athletic footwear category as a fashion-forward, athletically inspired
lifestyle brand targeting a core 18-34 year old consumer who aspires
to urban culture.
In consummating the Fila purchase, Mr. Yoon stated, "Having been
affiliated with Fila for so many years, we are proud to have the
opportunity to lead such a distinguished brand." Added Mr. Epstein,
"Fila has tremendous upside potential and we are very excited about
its future."
Established in Italy in 1911, Fila is a leading manufacturer of
footwear and apparel for sport and leisure that has developed
excellent brand recognition by marketing products with a high design
and style content that are endorsed by professional athletes from
around the world.