WFSGI Bicycle committee chairpersons

Ostermundigen, Oct 12, 2013: The WFSGI is pleased to announce that two new Chairpersons have been elected for its Bicycle Committees. Bernhard Johanni (SRAM) succeeds Dirk Bruynseraede from Ridley as Technical Committee Chairman and Tim Gerrits (Shimano) follows Josh Poertner from Zipp as Wheel Committee Chairman.

Paul Lew from Reynolds Cycling will join the Wheel Committee as a Vice-Chair and gets in line with the two other Vice-Chairmen Martin Walthert (DT Swiss) and Pierre-Jean Martin (Corima).

Bernhard Johanni will be supported by his Vice-Chairmen Claudio Marra (FSA) and Mark Schroeder (Specialized).

“The WFSGI can be proud to draw on Committtee members who can display such a long industry experience, high technical know-how and an excellent network. These are important factors to continue our work with the UCI and to tackle the tasks that are ahead of us,” says Robbert de Kock, Secretary General of the WFSGI.

All candidates are supported by the WFSGI Bicycle Committees, representing 58 bicycle brands.

Bernhard Johanni, WFSGI Bicycle Technical Committee Chairman:

Bernhard Johanni (48) lives in Schweinfurt, Germany is luckily married and father of one son. Johanni did his Master degree in mechanical engineering at Technical University of Munich in 1993 and started afterwards his professional experience as Design Engineer for bicycle components at Mannesmann Sachs AG and later as director of product development for SRAM Europe. As of 2013 Johanni is member of the general management team of SRAM Germany GmbH. Additionally to his work at SRAM Johanni also serves as member of the bicycle standard working groups at ISO and CEN.

Tim Gerrits, WFSGI Bicycle Wheel Committee Chairman:

Tim Gerrits is 39 years old, married and father of a son and a daughter. Originally educated as an airplane engineer, Gerrits has been working for Shimano for 16 years in various product management positions. During the last few years he has worked as a product coordinator for high-end Road and MTB components. He has been involved in the development of Shimano wheel systems from the start and his experience will influence his work as Chairman of the WSFGI Wheel Committee for the benefit of the entire industry.

Paul Lew, WFSGI Bicycle Wheel Committee Vice-Chairman:

Paul Lew, graduated in Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Architecture joined Reynolds Cycling as Director of Technology and Innovation in 2007. He was one of the early innovators of the carbon clincher, creating the first production carbon clincher in 1996. He was the CEO of Lew Composites and Lew Racing which manufactured the LEW brand as well as the carbon rim for ROLF carbon raced by US Postal Service. Paul is con-currently Director of Technology and Innovation at Reynolds Cycling (Sandy, Utah) and CEO of Barking Sands CG (Las Vegas, Nevada) which designs and manufactures Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones) for the U.S. Government.

He holds over 30 US and International patents related to mechanical and aerodynamic design.

About the WFSGI

Global solutions through international teamwork – The World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) was founded in 1978 and is the world authoritative body for the sports industry officially recognized by the IOC as the industry representative within the Olympic family. The WFSGI is an independent, non-profit and non-governmental association formed by sports brands, manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, national federations and other sporting goods industry related businesses. The WFSGI plays a strategic role in the support and promotion of the sporting goods industry worldwide. The WFSGI promotes free and fair trade and provides platforms for the intergovernmental cooperation with regards to the International Organizations interested or affected by sports. Its aim is also to expand the cooperation on the protection of intellectual property rights and improve human rights issues related to working conditions. All this can be done through contacts with International Organizations such as the ILO, WTO, WHO, UN but also through International Sports Federations (FIFA, IAAF, FIVB, etc.) and the IOC, via the exchange of information and clearing house on issues and topics developed by WFSGI’s various committees. —- WFSGI