CAPE TOWN, South Africa (September 19, 2023) .... Leatt Corporation, (OTCQB: LEATT), a leading developer and marketer of head-to-toe protective gear for a variety of sports with an emphasis on extreme and high-velocity sports, today announced that it has re-enforced its team with two key industry professionals that will focus on the Mountain Biking market:
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Bastian Dietz rejoins Leat as Int. Marketing Manager, MTB
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Dain Zafte joins Leat as VP of Sales and Marketing, MTB, focusing on the US market
Dietz, based in Munich, Germany, will run MTB Marketing Management on the international side of the business. Dietz previously worked for Leatt and returns after a five-year break. He has been in the bicycle industry since 2007, and has worked at Rasoulution marketing agency building the PR department, lead marketing efforts with several cycling goods manufacturers (ION, LEATT & SQlab), and built the bicycle category at the IAA MOBILITY trade show. In his free time, Dietz enjoys spending time building and collecting vintage mountain bikes and exploring the forests outside of Munich with his family.
“I have been following Leatt’s impressive brand and product development very closely since I left,” said Dietz. “Within five years, Leatt’s business growth and MTB brand momentum have been very impressive. When I met Sean (CEO) and Erik (GM) earlier this year, I felt compelled to go back to the Leatt family and help them to keep on progressing.”
Zaffke, based in Santa Cruz, California, will oversee all sales and marketing efforts related to the mountain bike business in the United States. He will also contribute to brand strategy on a global level. Zaffke’s entire adult life has revolved around mountain bikes. He has raced XC, Enduro and downhill at a high level (with some gravel and road riding too). He has more than two decades of bike industry experience ranging from gear editor at Bike magazine, to product development, to sales and marketing positions with Wilderness Trail Bikes, Easton Cycling and Giro. Prior to joining Leatt, Zaffke spent 10+ years as Giro’s Senior Director of Marketing.
“I am thrilled to join the Leatt family!” said Zaffke. “Leatt has a powerful mix of innovation and style, plus a clear purpose rooted in an authentic desire to protect and serve riders’ needs. These values align perfectly with my own, and I see nothing but opportunity to continue growing the Leatt brand.”
With these two strategic positions, Leatt is investing in the continued success of its mountain bike business, which has become a promising growth area for the brand and company. “While many of our competitors are pulling back, we see this moment as a great opportunity to strive for a surge in market share in key areas,” stated Leatt CEO Sean Macdonald. “Dietz and Zaffke bring a new level of focus to our mountain biking business. With their fantastic experience and infectious passion for riding, adding these two to our already powerhouse team will allow Leatt to truly level up!”
About Leatt Corp.
Driven by the science of thrill, Leatt Corporation develops head-to-toe personal protective gear for various sports, with a focus on mountain biking and extreme motorsports. This includes the award- winning Leatt-Brace®, a neck brace system considered the gold standard for neck protection when worn in conjunction with a helmet. Leatt products are designed for participants in extreme sports – more specifically riding motorcycles, bicycles, mountain bikes, all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles and other open-air vehicles. For more information, visit www.leatt.com.
