MANUFACTURING
Billabong USA President Stepping Down
The president of Billabong USA, Ed Leasure, is leaving the company at the end of January.
Leasure has worked for the surfwear brand for some nine years and took over as president of operations in the Americas in 2013 at a time when Billabong was undergoing some long-running financial problems. Billabong USA is headquartered in Irvine, Calif.
Australia-based Billabong International Ltd. first tapped Leasure as head of U.S. retail operations on an interim basis and a few months later made the job a permanent position for him.
Leasure, a die-hard surfer, succeeded Colin Haggerty, the head of global retail for Billabong International. Haggerty stepped into the role temporarily in late 2012 after former Americas President Paul Naude pursued a possible buyout of the action-sports apparel maker and retailer.
Naude officially resigned after the Billabong board of directors chose a competing offer for the company.
Brand Billabong President Shannon North will head the retailer’s Americas operations.
The wholesale and international development parts of the U.S. business will be headed by other senior executives.
