Former Quiksilver Head of Sales Mike Reilly Joins Free Fly
Former Quiksilver North American sales leader Mike Reilly has a new job heading up sales at Free Fly, a fishing, outdoor, and lifestyle apparel brand.
In this new role, Reilly will lead a sales team to oversee the growth and expansion of core retail targets, including expanding wholesale distribution within surf channels, as well as the expansion of wholesale accounts across the Northeast, Texas, and California. Free Fly is a family-owned business based in South Carolina.
“The last 15 years have been a dream come true working for Quiksilver and I’m so thankful to Rob Colby and Bob McKnight who took a chance on me to help run parts of their North American operations and eventually run North American sales,” he said.
“In addition, a huge thanks to Brad Blankinship (former Quiksilver Global GM) for having me on his global executive leadership team, which was pivotal in the resurgence of the Quiksilver brand in the U.S. market over the last few years. To go from being a Quiksilver team rider to running the wholesale business has been an absolute privilege and honor.”
Free Fly is known for its fabrics and its sustainability story, and Reilly said he sees big opportunity for the brand at wholesale, including in the surf market.
“I have been analyzing our space and see a seam for a brand to bring unique products with differentiated fabrication to our market,” he told SES. “Free Fly is a brand that has a unique target market focus, strong product differentiation, and, most importantly, has a laser focus on making the most comfortable clothing in the world through their integration of fabrications from bamboo and other natural fibers.
“I’m so excited to get to work with CEO Sterling Boyd and Founder Tanner Sutton and the rest of the team to bring a unique value proposition to the market,” he said.
“We are thrilled to welcome Mike Reilly to our team as our company continues to deliver products that equip customers with sun-protection for all water-driven adventures,” said Boyd. “Mike’s industry expertise, combined with his passion for surf, makes him the perfect fit for our brand.”
