Co-Founder of Reebok Quits as Executive V.P.

James E. Barclay, who co-founded the Reebok shoe operation in the United States, has resigned as executive vice president of Reebok International Ltd.

Barclay, in a statement issued by Reebok International, said he was resigning to pursue new opportunities. Barclay, 47, will continue to consult with Reebok executives, and the company has no immediate plans to name a replacement, according to Kate Burnham, a Reebok spokeswoman. Reebok, based in Canton, Mass., and its subsidiaries produce apparel and athletic footwear under the Rockport, Reebok, Avia and Ellesse brand names.

Barclay and Paul Fireman, chairman and chief executive of Reebok International, founded the Reebok distributorship in the United States in 1979. At that time, Reebok operations were based in Bolton, England. Reebok headquarters was moved to Canton when the company was taken public in 1985.

Barclay first served as vice president of sales and marketing for three years and later served as president of the footwear division. He had been executive vice president since July, 1985, and has been working on production strategies. The company has production facilities worldwide.

Meanwhile, Reebok has named Mark R. Goldston, former president of Faberge Inc.’s Faberge USA division, to the newly created post of senior vice president and chief marketing officer at the Reebok brands division.