Ex-Sony chief to head sports organisation
Former Sony UK managing director David Pearson has joined sports and clothing group Pentland as managing director for international brands.
The company, whose brands include Speedo, Ellesse and Kickers, confirmed Pearson’s appointment but refused to give details of his new role. Pentland is trying to build a stronger global presence focused on sports, leisure and fashion. Last year it completed the disposal of its consumer products division.
Pearson left Sony in June after less than a year in the post of managing director. He was with the company for ten years and built up a high profile in UK marketing, running the company’s consumer marketing division, Sony Consumer Products.
Other brands in the Pentland portfolio include Berghaus the outdoor clothing company and it is also the backer of trendy fashion brand Red or Dead.
In April, Speedo announced that it had appointed WCRS to work on a 8m global advertising campaign in an attempt to reposition itself as a broader sportswear manufacturer.
Pre-tax profits for the Pentland Group for the year ended December 31 1997 were up 11 per cent to 40.5m. However, the group warned in April that it had experienced difficult trading partly as a result of the downturn in Asian markets.
