Orange Brigade promotion: Tom Etherington is now VP of sales for KTM Group North America. In this new role, Etherington will oversee the sales departments for both KTM North America and Husqvarna Motorcycles North America.
After starting his career as the GM for Ab’s Motorcycle Shop Ltd. during the 1980s, Tom worked his way up the OEM ranks, first as a DSM for Yamaha Motor Canada for 12 years, then on to Suzuki Canada for a couple of years before becoming national sales manager for KTM Canada in 2009. He moved south of the border to become sales manager for KTM North America in 2009 and most recently was VP of KTM Group sales.
“I am excited to take on this new role, having been a part of the group’s growth over the years,” says Etherington. “I am looking forward to working toward continued elevation of both brands within the North American market.” New KTM Group president John Hinz adds, “Tom is uniquely qualified for this new position based on his extensive experience in the North American motorcycle industry. His leadership will help guide the KTM and Husqvarna Motorcycles brands to sales success in a continuously evolving market.”
Engine Ice Hi-Performance Coolant has added industry veteran Scott Lukaitis to the management team. Lukaitis joins the company as the Chief Operating Officer and will work alongside company President/Founder Dave Kimmey to expand the brand both domestically and worldwide.
A lifelong member of the industry, Lukaitis managed the parts and accessory departments at several dealerships before taking a role as the global brand manager for Bel-Ray Lubricants back in 2010. For the past year, under Bel-Ray’s new corporate umbrella, Calumet Specialty Products Partners, Lukaitis managed shows and events for both Bel-Ray and its sister company, Royal Purple.
“I’m looking forward to this amazing opportunity with Dave and Engine Ice,” Lukaitis says. “When I heard that Scott had his position at Bel-Ray vacated, a brand I have looked up to since my own racing days years ago, it was an automatic reaction to reach out to him immediately,” adds Kimmey. “I have been friends with Scott for years, and I saw the great job he did at Bel-Ray over the last few years, so he’s proven his value, and our ability to secure his services moving forward is truly an example of being in the ‘right place at the right time.’”
The National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC) is looking for a new executive director. After nearly 20 years off-road industry stalwart Russ Ehnes is leaving on June 1. He will be shifting gears to other opportunities in off-highway vehicle recreation, including managing the Bull Run Guest Ranch, near Great Falls, Montana.
“I am still fully committed to the mission of NOHVCC, and extremely proud of what we have all managed to accomplish,” said Ehnes. “NOHVCC is in a great position right now. Its mission has incredible momentum, with many positive initiatives, thanks to a large and energetic team effort by the NOHVCC staff and Board of Directors. Of course, I’ll remain engaged in off-highway vehicle activism at the State and local level.”
NOHVCC is beginning the search for a new executive director in order to provide a smooth transition and allow for continuity with its many OHV enthusiast, club, industry and agency partners.
Former MAG Retail Group/MotorcycleSuperStore.com off-road segment manager Gavin Rodgers is on fire! Well, not literally, but he is now national account manager at TheBlaze.
“I handle national advertising sales for TheBlaze TV, TheBlaze.com, TheBlaze Radio Network and GlennBeck.com,” says Rodgers.
For those of you who may not know, TheBlaze TV reaches more than 10M household and is the exclusive home of Glenn Beck, Tomi Lahren, Dana Loesch and is one of the worlds largest subscription streaming video networks.
TheBlaze Radio Network is an online radio network featuring Glenn Beck, Doc Thompson, Pat & Stu and Buck Sexton among other syndicated hosts. Dealers may remember Rodgers from his days as a regional sales manager for Scorpion EXO or Oakley before that.
Heading off the beaten path? Veteran editor, story teller and all around good guy Chris Jonnum is embarking on a new adventure: Jonnum Media.
During a career that has spanned two decades CJ has been an editor (Road Racer X and Cycle News), MotoGP Press Officer for Ducati Corse and most recently as Powersports Director for Dispatch Communications.
In the latter role, he helped establish a powersports division, brought in clients including American Honda and Dainese North America Jonnum also wrote books on 2006 MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden, the Ducati Museum and the history of Alpinestars.
WPS has promoted its former Dragon Alliance sales representative Paul Davis to marketing and project manager. While he’s very excited about his new role, he speaks highly of his old gig: “Dragon goggles are some of the best in the industry, and the injection-molded polycarbonate holds up much better in the elements to give superior anti-fog,” he notes.
