VANCOUVER, British Columbia (BRAIN)—Race Face Performance Products has hired industry veteran John Pentecost.
Pentecost is best known in the bike industry as the co-founder and business director of Evil Bikes and e.thirteen components, and he’ll draw on those experiences to fill a couple of roles with Race Face. Pentecost will collaborate with the company’s team of designers and engineers as a product manager for protection, and he’ll also become the voice of the company in a newly created position as marketing communications manager for both protection and components.
Since parting ways with Evil/e.thirteen in 2006, Pentecost, who holds graduate degrees in business law and policy, has founded a successful travel company and more recently worked as a brand manager with Astral Buoyancy, a PFD manufacturer out of North Carolina with a burgeoning line of bike-related offerings.
“I’ve been familiar with John and his work in the bike industry for years,” said Craig Pollack, Race Face’s CEO and president. “We talked on several occasions about him coming on board with us, as I thought he had a tremendous breadth of skills to offer. John not only brings experience in growing brands and managing a global business; his entrepreneurial spirit will be welcomed with open arms. The fact that he’s a passionate rider and gravity racer means he’ll fit in great with our staff, and his professionalism, industry roots and integrity will make him immediately at home with our staff, customers and media partners.”
For his part Pentecost is excited for the challenges ahead. “I’ve always been a big fan and admirer of Race Face; their commitment to continuous innovation and customer support has set the industry standard for years now. My new title as component/protection marketing communications and product manager is a mouthful, but it really speaks to all that I have to offer Race Face. I give huge credit to Race Face senior management for thinking outside the box and crafting a role for me that takes advantage of the wide variety of skills and experiences I’ve been fortunate to encounter over my professional career. I’m excited to be on board.”
Wendy Tewnion will continue her role as designer and marketing manager for the Race Face Softgoods line and looks forward to working with Pentecost. “I had the pleasure of spending time with John through the interview process and I am excited that he is joining us and look forward to collaborating with him. His addition will allow me more time to focus on the design and marketing of our growing clothing collection as we take our Softgoods program to the next level,“ Tewnion said.
Pentecost currently resides in Freeport, Maine, but will be relocating to the Vancouver area in October.
