Newton Running, the leading developer of athletic footwear designed to support and strengthen natural running motion, has confirmed that Craig Heisner has been appointed company President, effective immediately. His appointment is ‘designed to support the company’s continued growth and expansion in the specialty running category.’
In his new position, Heisner will oversee the marketing, branding and sales for all current product lines. He will manage the sales and marketing departments at the company and will report directly to Co-Founder and CEO Jerry Lee.
“Craig’s appointment underscores Newton Running’s commitment to continually creating and marketing products that improve the sport of running,” said Jerry Lee. “His proven success in the development and marketing of iconic athletic brands made him the perfect candidate to oversee the expansion of our current categories as well as contribute to future innovations.”
Heisner brings to Newton Running a diverse perspective on the industry after more than 20 years of marketing and sales for leading athletic footwear and apparel brands, including New Balance, Reebok and Brooks Sports. He most recently served as Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Product Merchandising at Li-Ning, where he led the Chinese company’s introduction into the US market.
Heisner was instrumental in the growth of the New Balance brand in the 1990s, serving as director for its running business unit. The business quintupled under his leadership. Previously, Heisner served as a Global GM for running at Reebok before joining Brooks Sports as CMO and Head of Product.
While at Brooks, he led the strategic turnaround of the company, re-focusing the brand’s efforts on performance running prior to the company’s sale to Russell Corporation. He has also served as SVP of Marketing at Bachrach Clothing and held other senior positions in the industry.
“Newton Running’s leadership in the field, along with its unique combination of state-of-the-art proprietary technology and strong brand identity rooted in social responsibility, positions the company to become a lasting athletic brand,” said Heisner. “I have admired the brand since its launch and look forward to being a part of the company’s continued success.”
Heisner holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from the University of New Hampshire, and an MBA from the Graduate School of Business at Northeastern University.
