Salomon Puts Strategy Chief on the Executive Board

As Salomon continues its rapid evolution from an Alpine heritage brand into a global sportswear titan, the French outdoor specialist is institutionalizing its growth plan. Salomon has promoted Katharina Bahde to Vice President of Global Strategy & Transformation and appointed her directly to the Salomon Executive Board.

The move elevates Bahde, who joined the company in September 2024 as Senior Director of Global Strategy & Transformation, into top-tier leadership alongside President Guillaume Meyzenq. By giving strategy a permanent, direct line to executive decision-making, Salomon is sending a clear message to the activewear sector: scaling up requires tight alignment between long-term vision and operational execution.

From Wall Street and Top-Tier Consulting to the French Alps

Bahde’s rapid ascent within Salomon highlights a broader talent migration across the outdoor industry, where technical outerwear and alpine heritage brands are increasingly recruiting from high-finance, elite consulting, and luxury retail to power global expansion.

Before joining Salomon, Bahde served as a Principal at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and built her early career at Goldman Sachs, specializing in corporate transformation, strategy, and mergers and acquisitions.

"My work lies at the intersection of ambition and execution: defining the company's future strategic direction, globally and regionally, while ensuring the organisation is equipped to deliver on it." Katharina Bahde, VP of Global Strategy & Transformation

Salomon credited Bahde’s analytical rigor with helping the company navigate the complex, multi-channel demands of its recent expansion.

"In recent years, Katharina has played an increasingly important role in defining our strategic direction and strengthening our collaboration with Amer Sports. Her ability to turn complexity into clear and compelling strategic messages has greatly contributed to deepening understanding and buy-in for our priorities across Salomon." — Salomon Official Press Statement

The Strategic Context: Growth, Parent Synergies, and Market Evolution

Bahde’s elevation comes at a critical juncture for both Salomon and its parent company, Amer Sports (NYSE: AS), which also owns Arc’teryx and Wilson.

Bridging the Mountain and the City

Over the past decade, Salomon has achieved a rare double-success in sports performance and lifestyle fashion. The brand’s trail running footwear (such as the XT-6 and Speedcross series) successfully transitioned from technical mountain gear to urban fashion staples. However, scaling a dual-identity brand brings operational complexity: supply chains must serve core technical outdoor retailers while simultaneously supporting high-tier boutique fashion doors and global direct-to-consumer (DTC) channels.

Tightening the Amer Sports Connection

Since Amer Sports' public listing, aligning subsidiary goals with broader corporate expectations has become paramount. Bahde’s corporate finance background at Goldman Sachs and strategic expertise at BCG give her the ideal background to serve as the structural bridge between Salomon’s Annecy headquarters and Amer Sports’ global corporate framework.

What Lies Ahead for Salomon

In her expanded role, Bahde will be responsible for shaping Salomon’s multi-year strategic roadmaps, guiding regional go-to-market strategies, and overseeing transformation initiatives designed to improve operational speed and flexibility.

As outdoor brands adapt to fluctuating global consumer spending, supply chain realignments, and shifting distribution channels, Salomon’s decision to put its strategy chief on the board reflects a proactive approach: ensuring that as high-level ambitions expand, the organizational architecture is built to support them.