Pentland Brands, owner of some of world’s most loved sports, outdoor and lifestyle brands, have announced a pivotal change in its executive team with Joe Spies set to become president, Americas, starting this month. This announcement comes as Matt Rock, the current president, Americas, steps down after a 19-year tenure with the company.
L to R: Joe Spies and Matt Rocks
Matt Rock’s career with Pentland Brands began in 2005 when he joined as sales director for Ted Baker footwear, later advancing to managing director of the brand. His journey saw him taking on the role of global supply chain director in 2015 and then president, Asia Pacific in 2018, where he led global supply chain and regional commercial teams. In 2022, Rock undertook the significant responsibility of integrating the Speedo North America business into Pentland Brands’ global operations and selecting a local leader for the Americas division.
Renowned for his warm and affable nature, Rock leaves an indelible mark on the company’s culture, fostering strong and lasting relationships not only within his teams and colleagues but also with vendors, partners and retail customers.
Stepping into the role of president, Americas, Joe Spies (formerly senior vice president, sales for Pentland Brands North America) is poised to steer the company into an exciting new chapter. Bringing over 17 years of rich experience from his tenure at Converse, including his last role as vice president Wholesale for North America, Spies’ expertise spans sales, merchandising, product and strategy. His strong market and commercial credentials make him the ideal leader to drive Pentland Brands’ vision and growth ambitions in the Americas. Within his remit, Joe will oversee the Speedo Americas business as well as ellesse (racquet sports), Mitre (soccer), Canterbury (rugby) and Endura (cycling).
Chirag Patel, chief executive officer at Pentland Brands, expressed his gratitude for Matt Rock’s years of dedicated service.
We’re incredibly grateful for Matt’s leadership, dedication and contributions to Pentland Brands over the years. As we bid farewell to Matt, we also look forward to the energy, vision and leadership Joe Spies will bring as we move into a new phase of innovation and growth for our brands across the Americas region.”
