Latest news with #ArtieStarrs
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Harley-Davidson's New CEO Is A Dork, But That's Probably What The Company Needs
Harley has finally found its new CEO after cool guy motorcycle man Jochen Zeitz decided to step down back in April, and he's a real dweeb number cruncher. Sadly, I did not get the job. The bar-and-shield brand decided to go a different direction and hire a guy named Artie Starrs, current CEO of Topgolf and former global CEO of Pizza Hut. Zeitz will stay on as a senior advisor, helping Starrs (who starts in October) get up to speed through next February. At Topgolf, Starrs helped grow the brand to more than 100 of the bowling-alley-for-golfers locations, growing company revenues by more than 50% in just four years, and expanding the brand into the European and Asian markets. Starrs studied economics at Princeton and began his career as an investment banker. "It's a huge privilege to be joining Harley-Davidson as President and CEO, and I am grateful for the opportunity to help steward this incredible company," Starrs said in a statement. "I have long admired the unique position Harley-Davidson has in the hearts of its riders and fans; there is no brand that brings the same level of community and rebellious spirit as Harley-Davidson." Starrs calls himself an avid sports and outdoor enthusiast who enjoys hiking, golfing, seeing live music, and spending time with his family. You may notice that none of those things listed include riding a motorcycle. It doesn't seem that Starrs has any connection to the motorcycle world, and if he has an endorsement, hasn't mentioned it. Is it a good thing to take on the most popular motorcycle brand in the U.S. without really knowing the market? Perhaps an outsider can look at Harley's growth needs with a clearer vision. Read more: These Are The Cars Our Readers Wish Would Depreciate Faster Dorks Get The Job Done 'I'm excited by the tremendous potential to both drive growth and further enhance the H-D experience for all, and I look forward to working with the dedicated Harley-Davidson employees and dealer network as we start this journey together," Starrs said. Motorcycle sales were down across the board in 2024 some 15%, and Harley found itself in dire straits with huge drops in sales across Europe and Asia as consumers are pulling back on non-essential purchases in an uncertain economy. H-D has struggled with younger riders in recent years, in spite of Zeitz' "Hardwire" plan aimed at brand revival, in part because the brand's entry-level models are still significantly more expensive than the rest of the market. Starrs is taking on a tough market with Harley. The company faces a difficult international market with the ongoing trade war kicked off by President Donald Trump. Massive tariffs on steel and aluminum hurt Harley's bottom line, while trade turmoil further decreases consumer and investor faith in the economic system. Bikes are down, and especially expensive bikes. It'll be a tough row to hoe, but this is the right time for Harley to hire a numbers nerd to run the company instead of an enthusiastic life-long rider. Without any preconceived notions about what Harley should be, perhaps he's the right guy to mount a turnaround for the brand. Harley has already announced a less-expensive Sprint model coming next year, and recently sold off a non-controlling interest in its successful financial arm to stave off some of its debt, so maybe this is the start of a new day for the black and orange. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Harley-Davidson Names New CEO as Motorcycle Maker's Shakeup Continues
Key Takeaways Harley-Davidson named Topgolf Callaway executive Artie Starrs as its new CEO, replacing Jochen Zeitz. The struggling motorcycle maker is in the last year of its turnaround plan called "The Hardwire." Last week, Harley-Davidson announced it was selling a 10% stake in its financing unit to raise $1.25 billion in shakeup of Harley-Davidson (HOG) continued Monday as the struggling motorcycle maker named a new CEO. The company said that Artie Starrs would be taking over Oct. 1 from Jochen Zeitz, who announced his intention to resign this year after five years on the job. Zeitz will stay on through February 2026 as an advisor to help facilitate the transition. Starrs formerly served as CEO of Topgolf International, a subsidiary of golf products maker Topgolf Callaway Brands (MODG). Presiding Director Troy Alstead explained that Starrs' "track record of delivering top and bottom-line growth, combined with his experience in franchise driven industries, are both huge assets for Harley-Davidson at this time in the Company's history." Starrs moves into the position as Harley-Davidson finishes up its five-year turnaround plan called "The Hardwire," which it noted was aimed at "targeting long-term profitable growth and shareholder value, and aiming to enhance its position as the most desirable motorcycle brand in the world." The hiring came days after the company agreed to sell a 10% stake in its financing division, which is expected to raise $1.25 billion. It plans to use that cash to reduce debt, invest in operations, and return money to shareholders. Shares of Harley-Davidson were little changed in recent trading. They've lost more than 20% of their value this year. Read the original article on Investopedia Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Harley-Davidson Names Topgolf Leader as New CEO
Harley-Davidson appointed Artie Starrs, head of sports entertainment company Topgolf, to be its new president and chief executive officer. Starrs will succeed Jochen Zeitz, who has led the motorcycle maker as chairman and CEO since 2020 and recently survived a shareholder's attempt to remove him from the board. Mark Zuckerberg Just Declared War on the iPhone How Flying on a Private Jet Became the No. 1 Marker of Real Wealth American Consumers Are Getting Thrifty Again Is It Still Disney Magic if It's AI? A Steep Mountain Drive, a Brake Failure and a Volvo Recall Troy Alstead, presiding director of Harley's board, will become the new chairman. The transition will take effect Oct. 1. Starrs, 48, has been CEO of Topgolf International, a subsidiary of Topgolf Callaway Brands, since 2021. Before that, he was the global CEO of Pizza Hut. The leadership change comes as Harley continues to struggle with a nearly two-decade trend of eroding demand. In its July earnings statement, Harley said quarterly retail sales of motorcycles had declined 15% year-over-year. Starrs will also confront an aging ridership and restive dealers, some of whom have said the company has boosted its profit at their expense. Numerous Harley dealerships have closed over the past year. Harley made two big moves just before announcing Starrs's appointment. It said last week that it is selling a nearly 10% stake of its financing arm to two investment firms, and that it is bringing out a new bike model that will cost less than $6,000. Under Zeitz, Harley has put priority on its more expensive and profitable lines of touring and cruiser motorcycles. Some dealers have criticized that focus, saying the company was pricing out entry-level customers. One of the company's biggest investors, H Partners, led a proxy fight earlier this year in an attempt to remove Zeitz and two other directors from the board, saying they were responsible for a drop in the share price and 'cultural depletion.' The three narrowly survived the vote at the annual shareholders meeting. Write to John Keilman at It's a Tough Job Market for New College Grads. Is an Advanced Degree Worth It? It's a Scorching Hot Summer for Deals on Wall Street. Vacation Can Wait. Amphenol Strikes Big Broadband Deal in AI Boom The Fate of a Little-Known Company Behind Goldman's Apple Card Is in Limbo Delta Gets Blowback for Using AI to Set Airfares Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Harley-Davidson Appoints Artie Starrs as President and Chief Executive Officer
MILWAUKEE, Wis., Aug. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Harley-Davidson, Inc. ("Harley-Davidson" or the "Company") (NYSE: HOG) today announced that its Board of Directors ("Board") has appointed Artie Starrs as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1, 2025. Artie joins Harley-Davidson from Topgolf Callaway Brands, where he served as CEO of the Topgolf International, Inc. ("Topgolf") subsidiary. "Artie is an accomplished business leader who brings extensive experience managing strong brands and global operations," said Troy Alstead, Presiding Director. "His track record of delivering top and bottom-line growth, combined with his experience in franchise driven industries, are both huge assets for Harley-Davidson at this time in the Company's history. Artie understands the special place Harley-Davidson occupies in culture and in the lives of our riders. I'm confident that Artie can further enhance this connection with current riders while bringing new people into the H-D community." As CEO of Topgolf, Mr. Starrs was responsible for delivering on the overall vision and growth of the brand and establishing it as one of the premier sports entertainment companies in the world. He managed a portfolio of over 100 global recreational venues with over 30,000 employees, with a track record of driving growth and financial performance. Under Starr's four and a half years of leadership. Topgolf's revenues grew over 50%, from $1.1 billion in 2021 to $1.8 billion annually, and the brand expanded into five additional countries across Europe and Asia. Between 2013 and 2021, Mr. Starrs held leadership roles at Yum! Brands' subsidiary, Pizza Hut, most recently as Global CEO. During his time at Pizza Hut, Starrs led the brand to over 18,000+ locations across 110 countries. Prior to this role, he was President of Pizza Hut U.S. and before joining Yum! Brands, he served as Chief Financial Officer for Rave Cinemas. Mr. Starrs began his career as an investment banker at Wasserstein Perella. Mr. Starrs said, "It's a huge privilege to be joining Harley-Davidson as President and CEO, and I am grateful for the opportunity to help steward this incredible company. I have long admired the unique position Harley-Davidson has in the hearts of its riders and fans; there is no brand that brings the same level of community and rebellious spirit as Harley-Davidson. I'm excited by the tremendous potential to both drive growth and further enhance the H-D experience for all, and I look forward to working with the dedicated Harley-Davidson employees and dealer network as we start this journey together." Mr. Starrs will join the Harley-Davidson Board of Directors upon assuming the role of CEO. Jochen Zeitz will continue in his role as Chairman, President and CEO until October 1, 2025, after which he will remain a senior advisor to the company through February 2026 to facilitate a smooth transition. The Board has appointed Troy Alstead to succeed Mr. Zeitz as Chairman of the Board effective October 1, 2025. Mr. Alstead added, "On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, I want to sincerely thank Jochen for his outstanding leadership and many significant contributions as Chairman, President, and CEO for over five years. This has included the creation and successful execution of The Hardwire, our five-year strategic plan, in addition to steady stewardship through one of the most challenging periods in the Company's history. Additionally, the Board recognizes the substantial value unlocked for the Company through the recent HDFS transaction, which Harley-Davidson will benefit from for years to come. We are grateful for his vision and commitment, and we wish him all the very best in the future." "It's been an honor to lead Harley-Davidson over the past five years and to work alongside such talented and passionate teams," said Jochen Zeitz. "I'm incredibly proud of what we've achieved together, and I want to thank the Board, the Harley-Davidson leadership team, and all our employees for their unwavering dedication and hard work. I leave with the confidence that we've laid a strong foundation for the Company's future. I wish Artie every success as he leads Harley-Davidson into its next chapter." Company Background Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company of Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services. Our vision: Building our legend and leading our industry through innovation, evolution and emotion. Our mission: More than building machines, we stand for the timeless pursuit of adventure. Freedom for the soul. Our ambition is to maintain our place as the most desirable motorcycle brand in the world. Since 1903, Harley-Davidson has defined motorcycle culture by delivering a motorcycle lifestyle with distinctive and customizable motorcycles, experiences, motorcycle accessories, riding gear and apparel. Harley-Davidson Financial Services provides financing, insurance and other programs to help get riders on the road. Harley-Davidson also has a controlling interest in LiveWire Group, Inc., the first publicly traded all-electric motorcycle company in the United States. LiveWire is the future in the making for the pursuit of urban adventure and beyond. Drawing on its DNA as an agile disruptor from the lineage of Harley-Davidson and capitalizing on a decade of learnings in the EV sector, LiveWire's ambition is to be the most desirable electric motorcycle brand in the world. Learn more at and ### (HOG-OTHER) View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Harley-Davidson, Inc.
Bloomberg
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Bloomberg
Harley-Davidson Hires Topgolf Head as Motorcycle Maker's New CEO
Harley-Davidson Inc. appointed the head of Topgolf Artie Starrs to be the motorcycle manufacturer's new chief executive officer. Starrs, who ran the golf entertainment division of Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp., will start his new role on Oct. 1, according to a statement Monday.
