The World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) has set-up its regional Asia office in Hong Kong and hired Helen Ford as Senior Executive Director, WFSGI Asia.
Helen Ford joined WFSGI on 1 April 2015 and will be responsible for further developing WFSGI services to manufacturers and brands in the Asian region and to intensify the relationship with the association’s Asian and Oceania national and regional federations. Hong Kong is strategically located at the heart of Asia, alongside many of the region’s most important sporting goods industry markets.
Helen Ford holds a Master of Business Administration (major in Human Resources), has extensive experience in procurement, supply chain operations, partner management and corporate responsibility and knows the sporting goods industry well.
For many years Helen worked at Pentland Brands where she developed a global team to support business strategies and objectives in ethical trade, focused on responsible design and production of Pentland’s products and developed the CR communications strategy. Prior to joining WFSGI, Helen held a senior position in Li & Fung. She has been living and working in Hong Kong since 2009.
“In Helen we have found a highly competent person who will lead the integration of the Asia office and services into WFSGI global roles, tasks and services. She will develop local programs with global concerns and programs arising from local concerns targeted for manufacturers, brands and retailers,” said Robbert de Kock, WFSGI Secretary General.
“I am very much looking forward to my new role. I will evaluate the needs of the manufacturers and brands in Asia in order to better deliver new and relevant services for Asian manufacturers and companies,” added Helen Ford.
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.
