MONTREAL (BRAIN) — Argon 18 has opened its first international office, which comes as the Canadian bike brand begins sponsoring and supplying the Astana Pro Team, the first World Tour team that the company has supplied. The new office is Busnago, Italy.
"We are fully committed to our partnership with Astana Pro Team and having a corporate office in Europe will allow us tremendous activation with Astana," said Gervais Rioux, the founder and CEO of Argon 18. "Being present in the World Tour, we are able to establish a larger base and presence in Europe. Our newly established office in Italy allows our company to service our customers and brings us greater visibility and better positioning in the market as a global manufacturer."
The office will operate sales and marketing divisions. Jeff Hammond, the brand's director of international sales, will move to Italy from Argon 18's corporate headquarters in Canada to direct the European location. Hammond has 16 years of experience in international distribution. He became Argon 18's international sales director in 2010.
"With our new office based in Italy, one of the main strategic locations in cycling, we are closer to our key markets and will strengthen our communication and service to our distributors and retailers worldwide," Hammond said. "Being in the heart of Europe will foster our network with our strategic channel partners and a closer connection to our customers. The heritage of Astana, with 10 years on the World Tour, along with our international office in the traditional base of cycling in Italy, will definitely bring Argon 18 to the next level."
The company said it has experienced "tremendous growth" in the last two years and now has distribution in more than 70 countries.
Astana Pro Team will be riding the Gallium Pro model, along with the Nitrogen Pro and E-118 Next. A limited-edition Astana Pro Team bike will be available for sale to the public in early 2017.
