SUN VALLEY, ID (BRAIN)—Outgoing Scott USA general manager Scott Montgomery said on Thursday that he’s departing the company with nothing but a positive outlook on his tenure there.
“It was time for me. I’m at that point in my career where I really need another challenge. I’ve now taken a company public, taken a company through bankruptcy, brought an American company to Europe and Japan and now brought a European company to America.
“I’ve kind of just done so many different things. It’s a great time to kick back and reflect and really find a company in need of somebody who can take them to the next level. It just made sense,” Montgomery said.
Scott announced this week that Montgomery would leave his post, six-and-a-half years after bringing the Switzerland based brand back into the U.S. market. Scott pulled its bikes out of the U.S. in 1997 and returned in 2004 under Montgomery’s direction. Since then, Scott USA has seen growth every year—usually in the double digits—, built a dealer base 600 strong and expanded its product offering to a full line of mountain, road and commuter bikes.
Montgomery plans to stay with Scott for the next two months or so to transition a new leader into place, then will take some time off and weigh his options.
But he has no doubt his next project will be in the industry.
“I’m not going anywhere. I’ve got 4,000 phone numbers in my phone. My value is completely and totally in the bike industry. I will stay in it for the rest of my life,” he said.
—Nicole Formosa
nformosa@bicycleretailer.com
