Billabong Fills Three Spots on U.S. Team

Billabong Australia said Tuesday it has hired three more executives to help run the surfwear company’s United States operations, including former professional surfer Paul Naude, a former executive with Gotcha International.

Billabong has been scrambling to revamp its U.S. operations since Bob Hurley, who was the company’s U.S. licensee for 15 years, announced plans in June to sever ties with Billabong to start his own clothing line.

Billabong said Naude will be president of the company’s new U.S. division, and Eric Hohl, former chief operating officer for Mossimo Inc. in Irvine, will be chief financial officer.

Richard Sanders, who had worked with Hurley for a decade, will be national sales manager.

Billabong announced last month that it would put together its own management team instead of hiring another apparel company to distribute the surfwear line in the United States. The company’s founder, Gordon Merchant, will oversee the new division.

The new division is expected to be called Angourie Point Inc., once the name is registered, said Billabong attorney Scott Standen.

The appointments, particularly the selection of Naude as president, drew praise from some insiders.

Marvin Winkler, chief executive of Irvine-based Gotcha, said Naude ran Gotcha South Africa for 10 years and, for the last five years served as executive vice president of sales and merchandising for Gotcha Sportswear, overseeing administrative and creative functions of the department.

“He’s a really good person,” Winkler said.

“He’s very well respected in the business,” said Dick Baker, chief executive at Ocean Pacific Sunwear Ltd. in Irvine.

The new Billabong team has begun developing the summer 1999 line, which will be delivered to stores for sale in April. Hurley, who is completing his duties for Billabong, will show the spring lines for both his Hurley International and for Billabong this week at the Action Sports Retailer Trade Expo in San Diego.