Christopher M.
Chief Operating Officer at Hey Dude Shoes Global- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Christian Torrens
Around two years ago I was asked by our CEO whom would I trust to lead the future of NeilPryde´s Waterwear. I had very clear that Chris had the skills and desire, so I did not hesitate to bet for him. A few months later I ended up being part of his team. It has been a great experience to work for him!+ He leads by example and his positive attitude, drive and attention to detail are just outstanding. Furthermore, his human approach to business makes you want to give your 200% always. Under Chris´s vision, NeilPryde has become the first brand to add compression technology to a wetsuit, thus allowing watermen to stay out longer and at their top performance. For sure, his future and that one of those around him is going to be bright!
Matt Crowhurst
I have known Chris Martin for many years now, working under him as one of his team athletes at Ultra Sport Europe and have remained in contact with him through us both being heavily involved in the Action Sports Industry. Chris's knowledge of the water based action sports world is second to none and especially in Kite and Windsurfing. Marketing, sales, event and athlete management and more make up an awesome skill set. As someone who not only takes to the water himself to a professional level but knows the industry inside and out, he is most definitely someone I'd recommend to anybody looking for that experience and professionalism to help them with any venture focused on this the kite, wind, surf, wake and snowboarding scene.
Christian Torrens
Around two years ago I was asked by our CEO whom would I trust to lead the future of NeilPryde´s Waterwear. I had very clear that Chris had the skills and desire, so I did not hesitate to bet for him. A few months later I ended up being part of his team. It has been a great experience to work for him!+ He leads by example and his positive attitude, drive and attention to detail are just outstanding. Furthermore, his human approach to business makes you want to give your 200% always. Under Chris´s vision, NeilPryde has become the first brand to add compression technology to a wetsuit, thus allowing watermen to stay out longer and at their top performance. For sure, his future and that one of those around him is going to be bright!
Matt Crowhurst
I have known Chris Martin for many years now, working under him as one of his team athletes at Ultra Sport Europe and have remained in contact with him through us both being heavily involved in the Action Sports Industry. Chris's knowledge of the water based action sports world is second to none and especially in Kite and Windsurfing. Marketing, sales, event and athlete management and more make up an awesome skill set. As someone who not only takes to the water himself to a professional level but knows the industry inside and out, he is most definitely someone I'd recommend to anybody looking for that experience and professionalism to help them with any venture focused on this the kite, wind, surf, wake and snowboarding scene.
Christian Torrens
Around two years ago I was asked by our CEO whom would I trust to lead the future of NeilPryde´s Waterwear. I had very clear that Chris had the skills and desire, so I did not hesitate to bet for him. A few months later I ended up being part of his team. It has been a great experience to work for him!+ He leads by example and his positive attitude, drive and attention to detail are just outstanding. Furthermore, his human approach to business makes you want to give your 200% always. Under Chris´s vision, NeilPryde has become the first brand to add compression technology to a wetsuit, thus allowing watermen to stay out longer and at their top performance. For sure, his future and that one of those around him is going to be bright!
Matt Crowhurst
I have known Chris Martin for many years now, working under him as one of his team athletes at Ultra Sport Europe and have remained in contact with him through us both being heavily involved in the Action Sports Industry. Chris's knowledge of the water based action sports world is second to none and especially in Kite and Windsurfing. Marketing, sales, event and athlete management and more make up an awesome skill set. As someone who not only takes to the water himself to a professional level but knows the industry inside and out, he is most definitely someone I'd recommend to anybody looking for that experience and professionalism to help them with any venture focused on this the kite, wind, surf, wake and snowboarding scene.
Christian Torrens
Around two years ago I was asked by our CEO whom would I trust to lead the future of NeilPryde´s Waterwear. I had very clear that Chris had the skills and desire, so I did not hesitate to bet for him. A few months later I ended up being part of his team. It has been a great experience to work for him!+ He leads by example and his positive attitude, drive and attention to detail are just outstanding. Furthermore, his human approach to business makes you want to give your 200% always. Under Chris´s vision, NeilPryde has become the first brand to add compression technology to a wetsuit, thus allowing watermen to stay out longer and at their top performance. For sure, his future and that one of those around him is going to be bright!
Matt Crowhurst
I have known Chris Martin for many years now, working under him as one of his team athletes at Ultra Sport Europe and have remained in contact with him through us both being heavily involved in the Action Sports Industry. Chris's knowledge of the water based action sports world is second to none and especially in Kite and Windsurfing. Marketing, sales, event and athlete management and more make up an awesome skill set. As someone who not only takes to the water himself to a professional level but knows the industry inside and out, he is most definitely someone I'd recommend to anybody looking for that experience and professionalism to help them with any venture focused on this the kite, wind, surf, wake and snowboarding scene.
Experience
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Hey Dude Shoes Global
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Hong Kong
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Retail Apparel and Fashion
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1 - 100 Employee
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Chief Operating Officer
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Jul 2018 - Present
Full Fortune / HeyDude Shoes / WeWood Watches Full Fortune / HeyDude Shoes / WeWood Watches
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Pryde Group
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Hong Kong
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Sporting Goods Manufacturing
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1 - 100 Employee
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Global Divisional / Brand Manager
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May 2016 - Jul 2018
Pryde Group is a Hong Kong-based Sports Group composed of three key business platforms - Manufacturing, Distribution and Brand Management. NeilPryde Technical Apparel and Accessories Division is just one brand that it owns. Comprising of Wetsuits, Harness and Technical accessories for Kitesurfing, Windsurfing, Surfing, Sailing, and SUP. Distributed through over 40 countries worldwide. Pryde Group is the home of NeilPryde, Cabrinha and JP Australia and owns manufacturing facilities in China and Thailand.• Brand: Responsible for all product development, sales and direct marketing efforts carried out in order to increase the value and performance of the division and its products. Defining and managing the brand's language and identity throughout all departments of the NeilPryde division. Ensuring a consistent theme for the product and create a balance of brand legacy and current market trends.• Commercial: Managing all commercial aspects of the business including the following, accountable for the profit and loss (P&L), sales, discounting and closeout, market sales and operational expenditure (OPEX). Working with the CEO to create a near term and long term commercial strategic campaign for the NeilPryde brand. Responsible for creating and managing the budget for the NeilPryde division which supports its commercial strategy, Including product, distribution, sales strategy/plans and global pricing, reporting back to the board of directors at group planning stages.• Marketing: Working with the marketing team and external agencies to ensured that the respective targets and timelines were achieved and in line with the agreed brand plan, product releases dates and commercial targets• Sales: Working with internal and external sales teams to identify areas of growth and in line with the group's sales plan, targets, and strategies. Building relationships with distribution and key partner retailers around the world.
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AGENT EIGHT BRAND MANAGEMENT LTD
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United Kingdom
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Retail
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Director - Owner
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Feb 2013 - Jul 2016
Agent Eight Brand Management (UK) Owner / Managing Director - March 2013 - May 2016A full-service brand management agency working exclusively in the action sports market. Representing premium level brand across eight target markets, Surf, Wind, Kite, Skate, Wake, Snow, Alpine, and Bike.• Brands managed where, NeilPryde Windsurfing, Cabrinha Kitesurfing, NeilPryde Wetsuits and Water Wear, JP Australia Windsurfing and Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP), Imagine SUP and Seventy One-Percent.• Providing a full-service facility for brands that didn’t want permanent distribution faculties in the UK. Services included sales generation, sales support, print and digital marketing, demo’s and team management, warranty support, product feedback, product development, consultancy and warehousing if needed.
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Sales / Brand Manager
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Sep 2007 - Jul 2013
Pryde Group (UK) UK Brand Manager - September 2007 - March 2013Pryde Group UK was a subsidiary set up as a joint venture between Typhoon and Pryde Group LTD in Hong Kong. Brands distributed where, Cabrinha Kitesurfing, NeilPryde Windsurfing, NeilPryde Wetsuits and Water wear, JP Australia Windsurfing and SUP, Flow Snowboards, Nitro Snowboarding, Arbor Snowboards, and held the licenses for NeilPryde Sailing and Animal Wetsuits. UK Brand Manager for Cabrinha Kites, NeilPryde Wetsuits and Water Wear and the setup and co-management of the Animal wetsuit license. I also managed the groups print and digital marketing and all P&L’s for the brands.
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Ultra Sport Europe Ltd
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United Kingdom
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Spectator Sports
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1 - 100 Employee
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Sales / Brand Manager
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Sep 1997 - Sep 2007
Ultra Sport EU (UK) UK Brand Manager - September 1997 - September 2007UK & European Distribution and Brand Management for action sports brands. Brands which were distributed by the company included NeilPryde Windsurfing, NeilPryde Wetsuits, AHD, ACE and JP Australia Windsurfing Boards, Cabrinha and Liquid Force Kitesurfing, O’Brien Wakeboards and Waterski’s, Liquid Force Wakeboards, Electric Eyewear, Flow Snowboards, Palmer Snowboarding.• My role was the UK Brand Manager for NeilPryde Windsurfing, NeilPryde Wetsuits, AHD, ACE and JP Australia Windsurfing Boards, Cabrinha and Liquid Force Kitesurfing and Electric Eyewear.• Responsible for all sales throughout the UK and Ireland, marketing, team riders, demo events and sales events for the brands I managed.
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Light Role Infantry
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Jan 1989 - Jul 1994
The 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards is a Light Role infantry Battalion. This Means that it is organised to move quickly at short notice to trouble spots anywhere in the world. It is based in Aldershot as part of 1 Mechanized Brigade. Over the last ten years, Coldstreamers have been on operations in Northern Ireland, The Balkans, Sierra Leonne, Iraq and Afghanistan. The 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards is a Light Role infantry Battalion. This Means that it is organised to move quickly at short notice to trouble spots anywhere in the world. It is based in Aldershot as part of 1 Mechanized Brigade. Over the last ten years, Coldstreamers have been on operations in Northern Ireland, The Balkans, Sierra Leonne, Iraq and Afghanistan.
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Education
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1995 - 1997
De Montfort University
Youth and Community Education -
1982 - 1988
Tideway School
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