Here’s the release:
Reef brand’s Whitaker to Direct VF Action Sports Asia, Kincaid Takes Reigns of Sales in the Americas.
Carlsbad, CA (December 12, 2007) – Reef is taking new strides into the international marketplace bolstered by some important promotions. As VF moves to grow Reef and Vans Asia business, they are bringing Reef’s own Mitchell Whitaker to lead the growth. At Reef Headquarters in Carlsbad, CA, Courtney Kincaid steps in as Director of Sales, which will oversee sales for the U.S., Canada and Latin America.
VF has recently established a VF Asia office based in Hong Kong, which will consist of an action sports division including Reef and Vans. The new division will help both brands find a leading place in Asia’s rapidly growing consumer markets.
Mitch Whitaker assumes the role of Director of the Action Sport Asia division with an early focus on entry into China’s booming market. Whitaker has over a decade of Asia business experience under his belt and is fluent in Japanese. Over the last five years, he’s worked to open up Canada, Taiwan, Korea, Philippines, and Vietnam for Reef as the International Territory Manager for the Australasia region.
“I’m excited about creating a division and team to focus on the incredible growth opportunities for Reef and Vans in the Australasia region,” says Mitchell Whitaker, VF Director of Action Sports Asia.
Reef now has three distinct global regions including EMEA, ASIA and the Americas, which includes Latin America, Canada and the Caribbean. The Americas will continue to be the only region based out Reef Headquarters in Carlsbad, CA.
Working closely with the international teams will be Courtney Kincaid as he is promoted to Sales Director for the Reef brand. Kincaid has been an integral part of Reef sales transitioning from the East Coast Sales Manager to the Men’s National Sales Manager and now Sales Director over the last two years.
Kincaid came to Reef in 2005 following eight years at Oakley where he was a sales manager for all categories. “I am extremely excited about the opportunity to unify our internal sales teams for the U.S., Canada and Latin America and I look forward to taking our team and business to the next level,” says Kincaid.
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About Reef
Reef is one of the premier action sports brands in the world, and exemplifies the cool and casual attitudes of today’s youth driven boardsport market. Our brand is defined by the elite class of athletes that represent Reef products, as well as our core consumers who identify with the Reef brand’s unique blend of surf, sensuality and irreverent sensibility. At the core of the Reef brand are authentic, stylish, and comfort engineered products for guys and girls that have appealed to the millions of Reef consumers around the world since the company originated in 1984. www.reef.com
About the Company
VF Corporation is a global leader in lifestyle apparel with a diverse portfolio of jeanswear, outdoor, imagewear, sportswear and contemporary apparel brands. Its principal brands include Wrangler®, Leeâ, Riders®, The North Face®, Vans®, Reef®, Eagle Creek®, Eastpak®, JanSport®, Napapijri®, Nautica®, Kipling®, John Varvatos®, 7 For All Mankind®, lucy®, Majestic®, Lee Sport® and Red Kap®.
VF Corporation’s press releases, annual report and other information can be accessed through the Company’s home page.
