RIDDELL ANNOUNCES KEY LEADERSHIP APPOINTMENTS & EXECUTIVE PROMOTIONS

Riddell, the industry leader in football helmet technology and sports protection innovation, announced today that it has promoted Thad Ide to Chief Product Officer and Michael Oller to Executive Vice President of Revenue and Customer Experience. Both appointments were effective on January 1 and made at the direction of the company’s new President and Chief Executive Officer, Allison Boersma, who was previously the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer. Joining them on Riddell’s executive leadership team is Aravind Kashyap, Chief Information Officer (CIO), who assumed the position last fall.

“During their nearly 50 years of combined experience at the company, Thad and Michael have meaningfully contributed to Riddell’s significant growth and market leadership by leveraging their deep industry expertise, providing thoughtful counsel, and overseeing their functional areas and high-performing teams,” said Allison Boersma, President and Chief Executive Officer of Riddell. “Their passion for our business, pride in their work, and commitment to our customers are evident daily and make them invaluable to our leadership team as we move forward.”

Ide is widely regarded for his years of service in the sports equipment industry, including the last 26 with Riddell. He is a foremost expert on designing and developing headgear for helmeted activities and body protection for contact sports. In his most recent role, Ide served as Executive Vice President of Research & Product Development. Under his leadership, the company has introduced transformational core hard goods including Axiom and Smart Helmet technologies like InSite Analytics to the game of football. In his broader role, Ide will spearhead the development of Riddell’s comprehensive, next-generation helmet platform in collaboration with customers and industry partners. In addition to overseeing the engineering, product marketing, and quality departments, Ide is responsible for Simbex, a longstanding development partner Riddell acquired last year.

With 30 years of sporting goods and licensed products industry experience, Oller has led Riddell’s consumer products business since 2002, most recently serving as Senior Vice President. During Oller’s tenure, the business unit has grown considerably, driven by an expanded collectible product offering and more direct-to-consumer touchpoints, all of which have positioned Riddell as a formidable force in these categories. He also manages the day-to-day relationship with the National Football League (NFL) and was integral in securing an extension agreement for the company through the 2030 season. In his new role, Oller oversees key revenue-driving functions, including institutional sales, InSite Analytics, and consumer products. He also works closely with Riddell’s broad customer base to enhance their experience and support their evolving needs with an emphasis on digital resources, e-commerce, and sales programming.

Kashyap joined Riddell in September 2024, bringing with him invaluable CIO experience from companies across manufacturing, retail, distribution, and consumer goods. Kashyap specializes in delivering top-tier information management systems and improving IT infrastructure to drive competitive market advantages and operational efficiencies. At Riddell, Kashyap is focused on digital transformation across the company’s operations as well as the integration of the voice of the customer in related activities. 

Boersma continued, “Riddell’s executive team is stronger than ever, and together, we are poised to further our legacy of innovation, continued growth, and excellence in serving our customers.” 

For more information, visit www.Riddell.com and follow @RiddellSports on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

About Riddell

Riddell was founded with a goal of giving back to the football community while advancing and improving athlete protection. As the long-standing leader in football head protection and protective athletic equipment for 95 years, Riddell is leading the game to a strong future by creating a path to next generation protection. Riddell also offers best-in-class reconditioning services to help ensure athletes have access to clean, sanitized, and recertified equipment. Off the field, Riddell’s licensed collectibles business is regarded as the cornerstone of football collectibles for fans and collectors of college and the NFL.