| |
FORMER
NEW
BALANCE
PRESIDENT
JIM
TOMPKINS
TO LEAD
PRODUCT
DEVELOPMENT
AT SPIRA
FOOTWEAR
 EL
PASO,
TEXAS --
El
Paso-based
Spira
Footwear
announces
the
hiring
of Jim
Tompkins,
the
former
President
and
Chief
Operating
Officer
of New
Balance
Athletic
Shoe
Inc., in
an
advisory
role to
direct
the
development
and
expansion
of the
patented
WaveSpring-inspired
Spira
brand.
In 25
years at
New
Balance,
Tompkins'
unique
leadership
delivered
positive
results
in
numerous
executive
positions,
both in
the
United
States
and
Europe.
He
served
the past
nine
years as
President
and
Chief
Operating
Officer
until
stepping
down in
June
2009.
When
Tompkins
took the
helm in
December
of 1999,
New
Balance
employed
more
than
2,000
people
and
reported
worldwide
sales in
1998 of
$630
million.
Under
Tompkins'
leadership,
New
Balance
doubled
its
global
workforce
and
reported
worldwide
sales in
2008 of
$1.63
billion.
Spira
founder
and
Chief
Executive
Officer
Andy
Krafsur
hired
Tompkins
to
oversee
product
design,
development,
sourcing
and
manufacturing,
spearheaded
by its
state-of-the-art
energy
return
and
suspension
system
--
compact
WaveSprings
embedded
in the
midsole
-- and
guide it
to
compete
head-to-head
with the
industry's
dominant
multinational
corporations.
 "We’re
very
excited
to have
Jim as
part of
our
team. He
is one
of the
most
well
liked
and
respected
executives
in our
industry
and
provides
a unique
combination
of
experience,
leadership,
passion
and
integrity,”
said
Andy
Krafsur.
Spira
offers
Tompkins
the rare
opportunity
to
transform
a
revolutionary,
under-the-radar
shoe
company
into an
industry
powerhouse.
"The
WaveSpring
technology
offers a
unique
opportunity
to fine
tune
cushioning
and
energy
return.
With a
credible
technology
and
passionate
Spira
workforce,
the
potential
for
explosive
growth
is in
place. I
am
excited
to bring
my
expertise
to the
brand,"
Tompkins
said.
Tompkins
joined
New
Balance
in 1984
as a
product
manager.
He moved
to the
United
Kingdom
in 1985
to serve
as the
Sales
and
Marketing
Manager
for New
Balance
Europe
until he
returned
to the
U.S. in
1988 to
assume
the
position
of Vice
President
of
Research
and
Development.
Prior to
serving
as
President
and
Chief
Operating
Officer,
he held
the
position
of
Executive
Vice
President
of
Global
Operations.
Spira
Footwear,
founded
in 2001
and
headquartered
in El
Paso,
Texas,
is a
manufacturer
of
patented
technologically
innovative
running,
walking,
and
casual
shoes
for men
and
women.
For more
information
about
Spira,
visit
www.spirafootwear.com.
Click
image to
find out
more
about
Spira
Footwear
|
