Group Rossignol will refocus its Bike activities and offer on the Rossignol brand and its line of performance mountain and e-mountain bikes. This move supports the Rossignol Group’s ambition to develop mountain sports & lifestyle and the 365-day-a-year enjoyment that inspires the mountain lifestyle and ethos.

The PIERER Mobility Group, Europe’s leading manufacturer of “powered two-wheelers”, acquires Felt Bicycles from the Rossignol Group.  With a focus on performance, speed, racing, road, this is a great fit for Felt and an inspiring next step for the brand.

This cession of FELT and the refocusing of our bike activities under the Rossignol brand is consistent with our strategic direction aimed at providing the most inspiring solutions for multi active mountain users. We will thus strengthen our position as an all season brand inspired by the mountain and the richness of its alpine culture.

It is with tremendous enthusiasm and ambition that we enter this new chapter. Biking remains a strategic pillar for the Rossignol group; we will now concentrate all resources, efforts, and core activities on the Rossignol Bike brand. Our teams are unified by the exciting perspective of the future launch of the new Rossignol mountain bike range.

Felt Bicycles has provided since 2017 the Rossignol Group a strategic entry into the world of cycling. As the Group embarks on this new Rossignol-centric strategy, it will capitalize on its bike industry competence, new dedicated team and organization to expand into a fast growing global market.

“We wish the Felt brand, the team, and the new operations under the PIERER Mobility Group much success in the future. Rossignol is now perfectly positioned to become the year-round mountain brand. Cycling, particularly riding in the mountains, has grown dramatically and promises a strong future.  With the addition of mountain and e-mountain bikes to the brand portfolio, Rossignol provides outdoor enthusiasts with the full assortment of equipment, gear, and softgoods they need for their particular sport and active mountain lifestyle throughout the year.”, said Vincent Wauters, CEO of Rossignol Group.

Vincent Wauters, CEO of the Rossignol Group, will become part of a select group of 150 company directors (SMEs and large organizations) who have pledged their support to France’s Corporate initiative on Climate Change, the Climate Enterprise Convention. This forum draws its inspiration from the Citizens’ Convention on Climate Change roundtable and is focused on giving the business world a central role in driving the ecological transition agenda forward

Building on the example of the Citizens’ Convention on Climate Change, the  Climate Enterprise Convention (Convention des Entreprises pour le Climat) is a focus group of 150 french CEOs who have sworn to lead a number of work sessions involving outside experts between July 2021 and March 2022 as they brainstorm and channel their efforts on creating a platform of game-changing resolutions and propositions that will also aim to garner support from political circles.

The aim is to forge an ambitious set of credible initiatives that will support  its corporate members with their roadmap and efforts to reduce CO2 emissions, but also help them put biodiversity back on the road to regeneration while sending out a clear signal of their determination to re-engineer their business models by harnessing the collective intelligence from across their sector.

The mountains have never been more exposed to the fallout from climate change. The Rossignol Group‘s status as a leading force in the winter sports and mountain equipment market elicits a special sense of responsibility when it comes to protecting nature and the mountains.

« As a citizen, father and CEO, I feel responsible for helping both society and industry tackle the urgent global warming issues facing today’s world. The Climate Enterprise Convention heralds a tremendous opportunity to stand united, push back the boundaries and bring even greater ambitions to the  »RESPECT » program led by the Rossignol Group’s employees, » explained Vincent Wauters when he joined this initiative on behalf of the Rossignol Group.

These ambitious CSR goals will now fuel the Rossignol Group‘s strategy to continue developing an eco-friendly array of sports activities.

The decision to sign up for this Corporate Convention platform strikes a chord with the RESPECT program (in its environmental responsibility component) that the Rossignol Group launched in 2020. Designing environmentally friendly products will form the backbone of the Rossignol Group’s product policy. These commitments will ultimately help maximize sales of more eco-designed products that are manufactured at ISO 14001-certified sites and which reflect the Group’s investments to massively curb the amount of waste generated. The company is already taking a critical look at the life cycle of its leading products to gain a clearer insight into the innovations required to improve their eco-design credentials.

The Rossignol Group is also a member of the Fashion Pact and the United Nations Global Compact to promote CSR performance. Our commitment has already culminated in various initiatives worldwide, among them for instance an initiative to plant 35,000 trees in Tanzania with Reforest’Action, or the active support we bring to the Protect Our Winters environmental association.

https://en.cec-impact.org/

On the threshold of what promises to be a thrilling Olympic season, Rossignol Group announces contract renewals with Petra Vlhova (2024), Katharina Liensberger (2024) and Federica Brignone (2023).

Petra Vlhova finished the season with the top prize, the big crystal globe in the World Cup overall ranking. And with two World Cup medals in Cortina, silvers in the Slalom and Combined, the Slovak skier will be a serious contender to retain her title next season. She will be equipped with skis, boots, helmet and goggles by Rossignol and bindings by Look until 2024.

“I’ve skied on Rossignols since I was tiny, so naturally I’m pleased to be continuing my journey with the brand. I can’t wait for next winter because so far, other than an Olympic medal, I’ve achieved everything I wanted most in the world.”

At only 23 years of age, Katharina Liensberger has produced a heroic winter. With a crystal globe in the Slalom following 8 podiums in 9 Slaloms including 2 golds, World championship titles in Slalom and Parallel and a bronze medal in the Giant, the Austrian has earned true recognition. She will represent Rossignol for skis, Lange for boots and Look for bindings.

“I’m really happy to be staying with Team Rossignol until 2024. This means a great deal to me because it’s thanks to this passionate brand, plus a lot of hard work and discipline, that I’ve managed to prove myself one of the best female skiers in the world. I’m very proud to represent Rossignol, who have supported me since the start of my career. This continuity is important to me because I’m progressing one step at a time, and there are new challenges for me every year. Of course, the next one will be the Beijing Olympics!”

Having won the big crystal globe for the World Cup overall ranking in 2020, this year Federica Brignone has passed it on to another Band Of Heroes skier, Petra Vlhova. A sure sign of the impressive strength of Rossignol’s women’s team today! The Italian will use Rossignol skis, helmet, goggles and poles until 2023, with Lange boots and Look bindings.

I’m very pleased to be continuing my journey with Rossignol, the brand I’ve been with throughout my sporting career! They’re a family to me, and I can’t wait to share two more very important years with them and follow my sporting dreams.”

© Jordi Imberteche

Stéphane Mougin, Racing Director: “We are proud to continue the adventure with such talented and committed skiers as Petra, Katharina and Federica, and to continue to offer them the best possible equipment for their future goals, the Beijing Olympic Games in 2022 and the Courchevel-Méribel World Championships in 2023.”

Cardinal Cycling Group Purchases Bicycle Business and RTM Composite Factory.

Rossignol Group and SRAM announce SRAM’s acquisition of the entire range of road and mountain pedals, cleats, and all related patents of TIME Sport. The companies completed the transaction on February 18, 2021.

Founded in Nevers, France, in 1987, TIME’s clipless pedals system redefined ergo-dynamic compliance for riders by improving lateral and angular float, perfecting their balance between performance and comfort. TIME added mountain bike pedals in 1993. Their road and MTB pedals have been ridden to victory by legends, including Julien Absalon, (FRA), Greg LeMond (USA), Tom Boonen (BEL), Anna van der Breggen (NED), and Miguel Indurain (ESP).

“TIME is a legendary brand and was the first to focus on ergonomics through the pedal stroke. We will work to preserve TIME’s history and heritage, and continue their legacy of innovation and quality,” SRAM President Ken Lousberg said.

SRAM historically has expanded its product platforms through organic product development focused on innovation, and integrative acquisitions. SRAM’s strategic acquisitions include RockShox, Avid, Zipp, Truvativ, and Quarq.

In a separate transaction, TIME’s bicycle business has been purchased by Cardinal Cycling Group, including all related patents, trademarks and ownership of the TIME’s RTM composites factory. Cardinal Group ownership includes American Tony Karklins, the founder of Allied Cycle Works and former Orbea USA Managing Director, and Frenchman Martial Trigeaud, industrial engineer and former elite bike racer.

“TIME is a brand full of passion, history and true innovation. We are honored to steward TIME into the future and to advance Resin Transfer Molding technology in the cycling industry,” said Cardinal Cycling Group Partner Tony Karklins.

“I’m thrilled that we have found two exceptional buyers for TIME. Each brings unique strengths to drive the great TIME brand forward,” said Rossignol Sr. VP Bike Division, Scott Rittschof. He added, “Bikes remain a strategic focus for the Group. We will now focus our resources and core activities on Rossignol mountain and e-mountain bikes and on Felt road and triathlon bikes. The worldwide enthusiasm for bikes and the opportunities we see across the Rossignol and Felt brands support our belief in this focused approach.”

Both companies will continue to market products under the TIME name. SRAM will focus relevant external communications as TIME Sport, and Cardinal Cycling Group will utilize TIME Bikes. Customers will continue to contact TIME for product service and support during a transition phase through mid-year 2021.

After 16 years of leading Rossignol Group, Bruno CERCLEY will hand over the CEO responsibility to Vincent Wauters during 1 st quarter of 2021, while he will keep a non-executive role as President and member of the Board.

Saint-Jean-de-Moirans, 4th of November 2020

Bruno CERCLEY joined Rossignol in 2002 and left in 2005 after Quiksilver acquired the Group. In 2008 he led a consortium that acquired Rossignol from Quiksilver, and he took over as CEO upon completion of this transaction.

Under Bruno’s leadership, Rossignol Group has grown to become one of the World’s leading Winter Sport brands portfolio, including Rossignol, Dynastar, Lange and Look. After a drastic restructuring plan conducted in 2009, the winter sport brands have steadily grown their market shares, and in recent years experienced unparalleled success in Racing – across a range of most ski disciplines. This is a result of years of commitment and investment in building great products with a strong organization and leadership team, that was recognized when Bruno was named as “Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur”.

Under his leadership, Rossignol has also successfully launched a full Apparel collection and entered into the Mountain Bike market, extending its role as the “Pure Mountain Company”. The group is very well positioned to continue to leverage its unique portfolio of brands and accelerate growth Vincent WAUTERS will join the Rossignol group on December 1 st , 2020 and continue the global development of its core business while leveraging its significant soft goods and e-commerce growth
opportunity. Vincent and Bruno will work together for a smooth transition of the CEO role during 1 st quarter of 2021.

Vincent is a seasoned Outdoor industry leader who previously served as CEO of Hunter Boots, President of Arc’teryx and Executive board member of Amer Sports Corporation in charge of the Global Operations and of the Apparel and Gear Category. He had also held various operational positions at Newell Rubbermaid and was one of the first employees of Amazon in France.

Bruno CERCLEY said: “Looking at what we have accomplished over the last decade, I am very proud for having had the great privilege to lead the Group teams in this incredible venture. We have recovered our leading position on skis with Rossignol, doubled our boots market share, we have created a true, steadily growing, apparel business supported by a unique brand positioning, and we have become a major partner for mountain passionates in their quest for “Another Best Day” experiences, all year long. I am quite grateful to the teams who have worked so hard with me to make this happen. This is a good time for organizing ourselves to continue to develop our vision and implement it through solid action plans. Having Vincent joining the Group is a huge opportunity that we could not miss. I am very excited to work soon with him to ensure a smooth and efficient transition. I will obviously remain very much interested and involved from a more strategic perspective, as President & Board member.”

Vincent WAUTERS commented: “It is a great honour to join such an iconic, leading and authentic Outdoor group. What has been accomplished under Bruno’s leadership over the last several years is truly remarkable and I am looking forward to working with the team and our partners to enable a very exciting next strategic cycle.”

“It has been a privilege to work with Bruno over the last seven years. He has led a major transformation of the Group and is handing over a strong and well performing company to Vincent. I think the heritage of the Rossignol brands and organization is in good hands with Vincent, who with his background from global iconic apparel and winter sport Brands and his expertise across marketing, E-commerce and Operations, brings new capabilities important to accelerate growth from our solid platform” , says Hugo MAURSTAD, Chairman of the Board.

Rossignol Group and Benoît Laval have reached an agreement on the acquisition of the Raidlight and Vertical activities, to take effect on August 1st. Rossignol Group will provide accounting, logistics and IT support to Raidlight’s founder to ensure a successful transition. The Group retains the Outdoor Experiences service activities and is refocusing its outdoor activities around its Rossignol brand.

Rossignol Group has accepted Benoît Laval’s takeover offer for the Raidlight and Vertical activities. The agreement guarantees the transfer of the entirety of two brands’ activities to Raidlight’s founder, with the exception of the Outdoor Experiences activities which remain the property of the Group. The acquisition takes effect on the 1st of August. All employment contracts for Raidlight and Vertical employees will be transferred to Benoît Laval. Rossignol Group also commits to providing accounting, logistics and IT support to Raidlight’s founder as he launches the business.

Rossignol Group acquired the Raidlight-Vertical activities in August 2016. Raidlight, founded by Benoît Laval in 1999, is known for its positioning of very high quality and technical excellence in the trail market, while French brand Vertical has been designing equipment for ski mountaineering, trekking and hiking for more than 36 years.

In retaining the Outdoor Experiences activities, Rossignol Group is demonstrating its determination to develop a services offer for the regions in order to support them as they diversify, develop, and promote their tourist destination around outdoor sports (via the four networks: Stations de Trail trail-running resorts, Stations Nordic Walk nordic-walking resorts, R-Bikes for mountain bikes/electric-assist mountain bikes, and Espaces Ski de Rando for ski touring, with their marked routes, mobile apps, etc.). Rossignol is also refocusing its outdoor activities on the Rossignol brand, and will accelerate the development of its summer collections with its Rossignol Active collections. It intends to capitalise on the strong growth potential of the outdoor and summer mountain market, which is gaining in popularity every year.

« Rossignol has significantly expanded its offer in markets which were still little known 20 years ago, and which are now proving to be unfailingly successful. The acquisition of Raidlight-Vertical in 2016 was part of this process and reflected the shift from our winter-season model to a four-season strategy that covered mountain activities all year round. With the Rossignol brand, we now provide mountain enthusiasts with the shoes, clothes and technical accessories they need for their sport or activity. We also believe very strongly in our Outdoor Experiences services offer, which represents a huge asset for our Group. It enables us to enrich the customer relationship by offering, in addition to equipment, certified activity resorts for a complete experience,” explains Bruno Cercley, Rossignol Group President & CEO.

Rossignol Group employees were shocked and deeply saddened today to learn of the death of Laurent Boix-Vives. The company’s legendary president for some 50 years, Mr Boix-Vives passed away on Thursday, June 18th at the age of 93. The Group extends its sincere condolences to his family and loved ones in the name of the great Rossignol family of which he was the spiritual father. Laurent Boix-Vives was a visionary industrialist and one of the leading personalities in the ski industry throughout his career. A leader in the development of winter sports in both France and throughout the world, Mr Boix-Vives helped create and develop the ski resort of Courchevel before acquiring Rossignol in 1956 at the age of 29.

This passionate entrepreneur then transformed Rossignol, the brand founded in 1907, into the world’s leading ski company through a combination of innovation and internationalization. Mr Boix-Vives placed equal focus on racing, remaining very close to Rossignol’s many athletes and champions throughout the years, and placing competition at the heart of the company’s values. From the little town of Voiron in French Alps, Mr Boix-Vives continued to focus his energy, attention to detail, and vision on the company until 2005, marking fifty years of intense dedication to the world of skiing as he positioned Rossignol as the global market leader.

In 2005, Mr Boix-Vives celebrated the incredible benchmark of 50 million pairs of skis produced. Laurent Boix-Vives remains forever an integral part of Rossignol, the company he ran from 1956 to 2005 and to which he devoted his life.

Rossignol Group President & CEO Bruno Cercley said, “Rossignol Group has lost its legendary figurehead, who succeeded in turning a small workshop in Voiron into the world’s leading ski group. Laurent Boix-Vives was certainly one of the 20th century’s greatest entrepreneurial success stories, and he was instrumental in popularizing winter sports in France and throughout the world. The great Rossignol family is profoundly saddened to learn of his passing. Those lucky enough to have met him remember a deeply humane man who was always ready to listen and as caring as he was exacting. He managed to pass on his great attention to detail and to doing things well to those around him. We have lost a symbol, a mentor and a friend.”

During the lockdown period, our production sites for skis (Sallanches in France and Artés in Spain), ski boots (Montebelluna in Italy) and bindings (Nevers, France), together with our Racing workshop at the Rossignol Group Head Office at Saint-Jean de Moirans in Isère (shown here in photos), had to suspend operations for six weeks.

All possible steps were taken to prepare for production to resume in the safest possible conditions for workers, and this took effect from the end of April following a very strict health protection protocol. All of the employees involved have been committed to restarting production and making up the lost time to ensure that deliveries for the forthcoming season are made on time. We are grateful to them all.

Rossignol Group and WhaTTfornow have reached an agreement on the acquisition of the manufacturing and  commercial activities of high-end pedals and bike brand Time, to take effect this summer. The French start-up, at the forefront of e-bike innovation, aims to build a French Brand Group around cycling in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. Meanwhile, Rossignol Group is refocusing its bike activity to centre on the Felt and Rossignol Bike brands.

Saint-Jean-de-Moirans, 5 June 2020

Rossignol Group and WhaTTfornow have reached an agreement on the takeover of Time. The transaction incorporates all of the high-end cycling brand’s activities, including production of Time’s carbon frames, forks and accessories which takes place at the Carboprax factory in Gajary, Slovakia, and the brand’s commercial operation which designs and markets pedals manufactured in Rossignol’s factory at Nevers in France. The transaction is subject to the arrangement of the related financing and should be finalised by the summer.

Despite significant investments dedicated to Time since its acquisition in 2016, the brand has not succeeded in reaching the critical size to fit within Rossignol Group for the long term. Rossignol has modernized pedal production at its Nevers site and advanced the RTM carbon technology it uses, unique in the world of cycling, at the Carboprax factory in Slovakia. Time now has an efficient manufacturing structure.

In addition to the financial and workforce guarantees provided by WhaTTfornow, Rossignol Group was motivated by the buyer and its founder François Guers’ intention to develop the Time brand and secure its future. For WhaTTfornow, a highly innovative start-up in new-generation e-bikes, this acquisition is a step towards developing a manufacturing group of French brands around cycling. More broadly, it fits with the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region’s intention to consolidate and develop a “Bike of the Future” sector, which Rossignol Group will support via its cycle activity.

This handover allows Rossignol Group to refocus its bike activities on the Felt brand for performance in road, gravel, cyclocross, track, and triathlon bikes, and on Rossignol Bike for the outdoor market with mountain bikes and e-mountain bikes. The Group will continue to produce pedals for WhaTTfornow at its Nevers site.

François Guers commented : “By rising to the challenge of reviving Time, an iconic and highly innovative French brand in sport cycling, WhaTTfornow is adding to its offer of Boost electric-assist bikes aimed at young people and athletes, represented by Alexis Pinturault, the ambassador for these two brands. By reconnecting with specialist stores in the bike world, and particularly with those who have remained loyal despite more challenging times, Time will be able to use its innovative new products to achieve real growth.”

Bruno Cercley, Groupe Rossignol President & CEO, stated: “I am delighted at this agreement, which allows us to envisage beneficial, long-term development for Time, in a new environment which shares Rossignol’s passion for innovation. We will be happy to follow this new adventure by playing a part in the French Brand Group currently being created. Bikes remain a strong strategic focus for the Group, and we will concentrate our efforts on mountain bikes and e-mountain bikes with Rossignol, and on road bikes with Felt. The worldwide enthusiasm for bikes, particularly in mountain environments, supports our belief in this approach.”

WhaTTfornow CEO François Guers was keen to highlight the “very professional and constructive work carried out with Jean Laurent Nectoux, Rossignol COO, and his teams, to bring this transaction to fruition.“ The whole WhaTTfornow team is delighted at the prospect of working with the Time employees who will relocate to Rumilly, near Annecy. This new chapter for the 20 or so employees will unfold, from September, in the new setting of the former Salomon ski factory proposed by the Haute-Savoie General Council as the base camp for this new adventure.”

Rossignol’s all-new freeride-focused Blackops Sender TI has turned heads at the 2020 ISPO Convention in Germany and been dubbed the winner in the freeride category. Offering outstanding performance and a new sustainably focused design, the Sender TI has everything modern freeride skiers are looking for.

Features like 2LCT (Double Line Control Technology) and Diago Fiber integration, which were inspired by the brand’s race division, give the ski powerful downhill performance. Coupled with technologies like Damp Tech and an Extended Core profile, the Sender TI delivers the perfect blend of precision and progressive freeride performance. Really setting the Sender apart from other competitors in the freeride category class is the Blackops ranges’ new sustainable design.

ISPO judges applauded Rossignol’s for incorporating:

• FSC® and PEFC™ certified wood
• Recycled materials in topsheets (15%), bases (30%) and edges (100%)
• New factory certifications where the skis are produced include ISO14001 certification and the use of clean energy.