Gene (Yoon-Soo) Yoon

GENE (YOON-SOO) YOON, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Global Leading Brands House Holdings & Fila Korea Ltd.

Gene Yoon is the Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Global Leading Brands House Holdings and Fila Korea Ltd., since acquiring the global Fila footwear and apparel business from Sport Brands International (SBI)  in March 2007.

He has been associated with the Fila brand since the early 1980’s when he served as the company’s first footwear sourcing agent in Korea.

In 1991, he launched the subsidiary Fila Korea where he built a successful network of franchise retail stores.

In 2005, he purchased a long-term license from SBI for Fila in Korea. Today, with more than 500 total points of distribution including 300 franchise stores, Fila ranks as one of the top sportswear brands in Korea.

Prior to joining Fila Korea, Mr. Yoon spent thirteen years  as a President of Line Ind. Corp.. Additionally he has experience working with both Hwasung Company, Ltd., and JC Penny.

Gene Yoon holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science & Diplomacy from Hankook University of Foreign Studies. He also sits on the Board of Directors for Shinhan Financial Group.

He was received several awards for his outstanding business management including the Korea-Europe Top Management Award from Korean Society Contemporary of European Studies, the Professional Management Award from the Korea Academy of Business Historians, and the President’s Awards on National Taxpayer’s Day in 1998 and 2007.

Young-Chan Cho

YOUNG-CHAN CHO, President of Global Leading Brands House Holdings, Chief Financial Officer of Fila U.S.A., Inc.

Young-Chan Cho is the President of Global Leading Brands House Holdings. Mr. Cho has an extensive background in business management, finance and operations including nine years work experience as Chief Finance officer or Chief Operation officer in Fila Korea.  One year experience as Asia Pacific CFO of Fila Group. As a CFO, he was in charge of Business Planning and Analysis, According, Cash Management, General Affair, Legal Review, Human Resources, and information Systems. In a capacity of Chief Operation Director, he took in charge of Products Flow, Order Placement, Inventory Management, Close-out Sales, Consumer Services, and Warehouse Operations. Three years work experience as the president of Fila Korea.

Prior to joining Fila Korea, Young-chan Cho was a Chief Finance Officer and Chief Operation Officer of Nike Sports Korea from 1993 to 1996.  He was in charge of Treasury, According, Human Resources, General Administration, Legal Review, Computerized Information Systems, Trade, Products Flows, Inventory Management, Closeout products Disposal and New Warehouse Project.

He has nine years of experience as a certified accountant for public accounting firms in New York, NY and Seoul. In Price Waterhouse (Saedong Accounting Corporation), he worked as International Tax Senior Manager from 1990 to 1993 and supervised and reviewed junior accountants’ work as a senior Manager in Song, Shin, Chung & Company, CPAs in New York from 1985 to 1990.

Young-chan Cho holds a bachelor’s degree in Chinese Language and Literature from SeoulNationalUniversity and a master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA and finished Ph.D. course in According from SejongUniversity in Seoul.  Every morning he runs five to ten Kilometers and has finished three full course marathons.

Jon Epstein

JON EPSTEIN, President of Fila U.S.A., Inc.

Jon Epstein will serve as President of Fila USA, Inc. and will assume global responsibility for product development, sales and marketing for Fila.

Immediately prior to rejoining Fila in his current capacity, Mr. Epstein held senior sales and management roles with Le Coq Sportif.

Mr. Epstein held the role of President & CEO of Fila USA from 1998 - 2003. He was deeply involved in the restructuring and reorganization of Fila U.S.A. in order to improve top line revenues and to return the company to profitability. In 2003, Mr. Epstein led the acquisition of Fila by Sport Brands International from then owner HDP, SpA.

Under Mr. Epstein’s leadership, Fila USA retained sports icons Barry Bonds, Jennifer Capriati and Kim Clijsters to represent the brand. With skillfully deployed marketing and merchandising programs for each athlete, Mr. Epstein significantly raised Fila’s profile and market share in the key active lifestyle, basketball, fitness and tennis categories.

A native of Hartford, Connecticut, Mr. Epstein, 52, is a graduate of Boston University where he was a standout player on the school’s Division I soccer team. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University in 1976.

Turning his passion for sports into a professional livelihood, Mr. Epstein joined Adidas America shortly after graduation where he spent 21 years in sales. Before leaving Adidas for Fila, Mr. Epstein was National Sales Manager for the company. Under his sales leadership, Adidas America grew from $190 million to $1.5 billion.

During his career, Mr. Epstein has been frequently honored by many of the largest U.S. sporting goods retailers for his commitment to the industry and for his sales accomplishments.

Mr. Epstein resides in St. Louis, Mo. with his wife Carol. In his spare time, he enjoys reading and traveling.