Rapha has confirmed the appointment of Scott Mellin to its board of directors. Mellin joins the British-founded cycling brand with three decades of experience in brand-building and product innovation, having previously held senior roles at The North Face and Salomon.
The appointment follows a period of strategic activity since Fran Millar joined Rapha as CEO in September 2024. This includes a partnership with USA Cycling, announced last year, which will see Rapha provide technical kit for the US Olympic and Paralympic cycling teams at the Los Angeles 2028 games.
During his tenure as Global Chief Brand Officer at Salomon, Mellin was credited with driving the modernisation of the French mountain sports brand, which saw it adding US$1 billion in net revenue and doubling brand awareness over three years.
He previously served as Global General Manager of Mountain Sports at The North Face, where he led the redefinition of the Summit Series and the relaunch of the footwear category. While at the company, he also oversaw sustainability programming that increased recycled product content from 7% to over 70% and led the development of new textiles such as Futurelight.
Fran Millar, CEO at Rapha, said “Scott has a track record of pushing brands to find new cultural relevance whilst deepening authenticity and a sense of heritage. That insight will be invaluable as we grow Rapha’s reach without compromising what makes this brand extraordinary.
“In addition, his credentials in driving product strategy and textile innovation will help sharpen our product pipeline. Rapha has always looked beyond the sport and my experience has taught me what you gain from people at the top of their game in different industries. Scott brings not only a wealth of experience but fresh eyes and a new perspective.”
Mellin, a committed cyclist who has lived in Aspen, CO, and Annecy, France, has been a customer of the Rapha brand since its inception. His role on the board will focus on brand identity, material innovation, and sustainability as the company looks to expand its global community and Rapha Cycling Club (RCC) membership.
Scott Mellin, Board Member at Rapha, said “Rapha is in a period of transformation – increasingly confident and starting to innovate at speed. I hope to act as a kind of catalyst for those changes, so that the next few years completely reinvent what it feels like to wear Rapha. I am honoured to be joining the brand in this new era.”
Founded in London in 2004, Rapha operates 18 Clubhouses in major cities worldwide and leads more than 4,000 rides annually for its members. The brand’s in-house atelier focuses on developing performance apparel for elite athletes with an emphasis on material innovation.
