Bicycle Retailer reports that after 48 years at the helm of Specialized, Mike Sinyard is stepping away from the CEO role and into a new role as "Founder, Chairman and Chief Rider Advocate." In his place he's appointed former Dyson executive Scott Maguire.
 | I am extremely excited about the opportunity to lead this revered brand into the future. There's never been a team this strong in the bicycle industry and the Specialized innovation engine, product, and distribution is unmatched. We have everything we need to deliver products, experiences, and services that matter to riders around the world and affect positive global change.—Scott Maguire, Specialized CEO |
 | I have more energy now than ever. With Scott coming on board to run the business, I can focus on better serving riders, providing them with products, services, and experiences they've never dreamed of. Specialized is what it is today because of our people, our riders, and our retailers. Learning is part of who we are. That's always been part of the Specialized way.—Mike Sinyard, Specialized Founder, Chairman and Chief Rider Advocate |
It sounds like Sinyard will remain engaged with the brand and its vision. "I have been looking for the ideal leader for Specialized for years; Scott is perfect because he integrates design thinking, engineering capability, supply chain expertise, and operational excellence to drive meaningful innovation to customers and employees. On top of that, Scott brings together and leverages the strengths of diverse people and cultures to create simplicity out of complexity," Sinyard said in a statement.
Read all the details over on our sister site Bicycle Retailer.
"Scott brings together and leverages the strengths of diverse people and cultures to create simplicity out of complexity"
This translates to "Scott was heavily involved in shipping production of Dyson out to the cheapest labour market in the far east with the lowest import/export duties"
Spesh sued by Scott for trademark infringement in naming their new CEO.
FTFY.
Dyson is notorious for over investing in brand, hyping "proprietary" technology and not necessarily delivering on quality despite commanding a significantly premium price. We have one of their wand vacuums and avg one warranty claim per year.
They also have a very odd way of engaging with retailer partners, very controlling. When they launched their hair dryer the demo unit for customer presentation was shipping in a locked safe box and treated like highly confidential documents in a Bond film, one person had to take it around to each customer... just for hype. Sounds like a great fit for the Big S
Be safe be well,
Incognito Robin
Their major contribution to cycling was the mass produced mountain bike-built to spec at the time in Japan.
So they helped popularize mountain biking, but all they ever made in-house was water bottles and helmets (those aren’t in-house anymore either).
I know how the supply chain works.
And Specialized went from just selling road bike parts from Europe to what they are now by having a Japanese supplier mass produce the first Stumpjumper.
I am extremely excited about the opportunity to lead this revered brand into the future. There's never been a team this strong in the [fill_in] industry and the [company_name] innovation engine, product, and distribution is unmatched. We have everything we need to deliver products, experiences, and services that matter to [customer_identifier] around the world and affect positive global change.
Yuck, no stoke here.
My comment was directed at the quote for the incoming CEO, not Sinyard. Sinyard deserves all the epic rides he can get and Specialized deserves a CEO that will enable Spesh to keep up their momentum. Personally, I would like to have seen an incoming CEO that is both successful and an avid biker, but that quote is so banal… yuck. >
I've got a future in copywriting.
No I don't 'get it' - the bike industry isn't the cottage setup you want it to be anymore, a half billion turnover company will be corporate, like it or not.
Huge bike companies are a profit making business, if you want something different I encourage you to go to people like BTR, Starling, Orange, Kavenz, Nicolai and others.
From drywall to skis, climbing cams to car clutches, the supply chain for just about all the stuff you buy is highly regimented and very, very “corporate”.
Even a product line local craft beer relies on a corporate supply chain of brewing equipment manufacturers and suppliers.
You just have to be aware that the bike industry isnt what it was 20 years ago, the big brands are genuinely growing big companies now and will only get bigger / more corporate - Like Vans (trainers) I suppose.
Vans are a great example of how to be a big corporate enterprise while not taking complete advantage of your customer base. More companies should follow their model.
Read / listen to the book about Vans - it’s a good read, the owner sounds like a stand up guy.
Well that’s the way I see it pitching in they can milk it for a good few years if they streamline the service aspect of it all to drop it off and deliver it
As above, there are already a few specialized 'concept stores' - the way E-bike prices are going it will be a PCP deal and slick suited salesman selling it to you too.
PCP is all about paying monthly and either returning the vehicle (in this case e-bike) after the term or paying the balloon payment.
So you drop £1k deposit on your new £12k e-bike, pay £150 a month for it for 3 years and owe £6500 balloon payment (decent amount of interest to pay of course) or give it back.
"Is it affect change or effect change? Effect change is a verb phrase that means to bring about change. Affect change is a common mistake based on the normal parts of speech of affect and effect."
www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Employee-Review-Specialized-Bicycle-Components-RVW777214.htm
www.indeed.com/cmp/Specialized-Bicycle-Components/reviews?ftopic=culture
What a load of bullcrap. You're a bike company ffs, you don't affect global anything. Take a seat you clown.
And also, it's probably all fine. Companies that large move too slowly to mess everything up fast enough for any of us to care.
And if it all does end in a wall street circle jerk and the whole party ends one day.... don't worry still. The good employees that kept the bright spots shining all these years will still be there. Some with other companies, some with their own new thing.
We the riders? We'll be fine.
The market always wins in the end.
Haven’t seen anything saying he even rides bikes.
Just hope the mountain bike side isn’t cut so they can focus on “electric mobility” or merging with an automaker so be part of some larger “mobility solutions company”. Press release talking about “using our technology to change the world for the better” and “vision for a cleaner, car free future” coming soon.
This feels like the first step towards cutting the DH team so they can sell more electric city bikes.
Rich douche? Got that covered.
"Sinyard said in a statement." - I'll take Buzzwords for $100 Alex.
The company that could (maybe) bring production back in-house would be Trek, but they gave up on that 15 years ago....
Even if you are willing, you are probably one out of a million.
I actually work in a factory making made in USA parts, and all my coworkers seem to buy everything on Amazon.
Would you repeat that, please?
Im thinking of buying a Canyon bike.
SHould it be a ebike? or a XC? or gravel?
I already had a TORQUE ON, which came failed from factory. The only component that didnt came broken was the EP8
take care
Yeah, it's the only thing they made that didn't suck.
China would probably flounder just like Russia is in modern warfare.
I’ll buy shares to support this growth plan.
I do not think buying their shares then would be a good idea, as their products would stop being competitive (they are hardly competitive now), would you buy their product if they were 50% more? Do not think so.
All billionaires are shit people but James Dyson is among the worst of them.
When Specialized did use US production (Anodizing Inc for M2 frames) those frames were crap. The Giant and Merida built frames had a lot fewer warranty issues.