Industry News

Sportyard Oy changes name to PMA (Pulp Management Agency)
along with appointment of new CEO for strategic future growth.

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 21 May, 2008 : - - Helsinki, Finland – Along with the official name change, PMA (Pulp Management Agency; formally Sportyard Oy) has today announced the key appointment of Simon MacGregor to CEO to oversee PMAs operations, expansion and growth of the business unit.

PMA, a current leader in Sports management, specializing in Action Sports athletes, events, and consultancy in Finland, which manages Finnish Snowboarding heavy weights, Antti Autti, Risto Mattila, Heikki Sorsa, Eero Ettalla and rising star Peetu Piiroinen, announced the appointment as PMA sets it’s sights on further growth and expansion across the European market.

Simon MacGregor, also know to many in the industry through his knick name Tripper, comes to PMA with extensive action sports industry experience after 8 years with Quiksilver including the last 2 years as marketing manager for the Quiksilver South East Asia business unit.

“I am very excited to join this already well established and recognized team and am looking forward to the challenge ahead,” said Simon of his appointment.

“Through Marko Martikainen and the former Sportyard Oy business unit, PMA already has the solid foundation set and the reputation established. Whilst personal athlete managers are apart of the action sports framework in the US, it is at present very much so in it’s infancy in Europe but fast becoming more of the norm.

With over 40 plus years of combined experience in our team, PMA already offers the best personal management and consultancy to Finnish Athletes available in Europe and all we are doing now is strengthening the service we offer to our existing athlete base and diversifying, to take PMA Europe wide. Our goal is to be the premier action sports management firm in Europe.”

Along with Simon, the PMA team comprises of well-known Finnish athlete manager and company founder Marko “Makke” Martikainen, retired professional Snowboarder Aleksi Litovaara, Motorsports manager Max Söderström and events specialist Ilmo Niittymaki.

“I am very excited about the new structure of PMA. Action sports in Europe (although established) still has enormous growth potential especially if we compare it to the USA.” Said founding partner Marko. “Having Simon come on board to steer the PMA  Ship helps us have a clear vision for our future.

In the short time since Simon has joined us we have already seen effective growth results and the new structure allows for us to provide greater serviceability and effectiveness in delivering results for our clients now and for the future.”

With this announcement also comes the diversifying of the PMA operation with the expansion into the Motorsports sector with Finnish driver Juho Annala already making his debut in the Indy Racing League at the Toyota Grand Prix in Long Beach California.

With Finnish drivers a feature in almost every top international motorsport categories and his good looks and outgoing laidback personality, Juho (who is also an avid snowboarder and can hold his own when he needs to) is surely to be a future identity in the newly amalgamated Indy racing League. The recent merger of Indy Car with the Champ Car World Series to form a new unified body creates exciting times in American Open Wheel racing that Juho is looking forward to being apart of.

Along with PMA’s strong Snowboard portfolio and Juho, PMA also managers the interests and alliance partnerships of top Finnish Golfer, Mikko Iloinen and popular entertainers The Dudesons, who’s second TV series is now being released world wide in May.

For more information on PMA and what we can do for you personally or your business please email info@pulpagency.com. PMA new website launched soon at pulpagency.com PMA is apart of Pulp Active, a company specializing in corporate brand activations and marketing events.

www.pulpagency.com

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Aleksi Litovaara

Industry - Surfersvillage