Fila UK future in doubt after md departs

Sportswear brand Fila has been left without any senior management in the UK after the departure of managing director Peter Lawson. It is not known if Lawson had a job to go to.

His departure was announced to the UK office by Fila’s new US owner Sports Brand International last week. It is not clear whether Sports Brand is seeking to replace Lawson.

The move raises doubts about the future of Fila’s UK office, which has already been downsized and moved from Newcastle to Manchester.

Sports Brand International, which took over the company earlier this summer, is keen to revitalise the Fila brand.

It has already appointed Mikal Peveto as senior vice-president for footwear, a role which includes the marketing and development of the brand’s footwear lines (MW July 10).

Lawson, who was poached by Fila from Reebok in 2001 after 11 years with the firm, had been overseeing the marketing of the brand after its top marketer, Dominic Munnelly, quit in March (MW March 20).

Fila was forced to undergo a restructure after its marketing director, Stuart Ryan, left. The role of marketing director was then scrapped and Munnelly took over as marketing manager, its most senior position.

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